Fewer touches in dangerous areas
Like all top forwards, Saka is at his most dangerous when he runs into the opposition penalty box. But in all competitions this season, he has touched the ball in the opposition’s penalty area 7.5 times per 90 minutes, down from 8.3 and 8.4 in the previous two campaigns.
The lack of a productive on-field relationship with Gyokeres is clearly one reason for this, as is the fact that Odegaard has struggled with regular injury issues this season. Odegaard usually drifts to the right side of the pitch, where he links up with Saka.
It could also be argued that Saka is suffering from the absence of Ben White from the team. Jurrien Timber has had an excellent campaign at right-back but he and Saka do not combine as effectively in attack as Saka and White did in previous seasons. White’s decision-making and timing, in his passes and runs, have often brought the best out of Saka on the right flank.
There have also been tactical shifts this season, which have resulted in Timber playing in more advanced areas of the pitch. As detailed by Telegraph Sport earlier this year, Timber has often been tasked with attacking the penalty area from the right-back position, with Saka staying wide on the touchline. Evidently, this has not helped Saka’s attacking output.
So far this season, Saka is averaging 0.31 goals per game in all competitions, down from 0.41 and 0.47 in the previous two seasons. He is also shooting less frequently.
A secondary issue is that Saka has, at times, been let down by his team-mates. He is creating chances at roughly the same rate as in the previous two campaigns, but his assists per 90 minutes have dropped from 0.45 last season to just 0.17 this season.