Arteta Challenges Saka to Score Two or Three Goals Per Game

Mikel Arteta has challenged Bukayo Saka to raise his goalscoring standards, insisting the Arsenal winger should target two or three goals per game rather than focus on a seasonal tally.

Saka is Arsenal’s leading scorer this season, with three goals in the opening six Premier League matches. However, the England international could have added to his tally after missing several clear opportunities in recent weeks.

The 25-year-old failed to beat James Trafford in a one-on-one opportunity against Leeds United on Saturday, with his effort saved with virtually the last kick of the game. He also missed big chances against Sunderland and in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League victory over Napoli.

Saka’s best Premier League goalscoring return came in the 2023/24 season, when he netted 16 times, finishing with 20 goals across all competitions.

But Arteta believes the winger should adopt a more ambitious mindset if he is to reach the next level.

‘No, I think the numbers should go to score two or three per game,’ the Arsenal manager said.

‘That’s it. That’s the mindset. And then if you score one, so be it, you score two, so be it, because he has the ability to score in many ways.’

Arteta argued that setting a seasonal target could limit a player’s ambition, urging Saka to concentrate on scoring in every game rather than calculating how many goals he needs to reach a particular milestone.

Arsenal have also been working to get Saka into more dangerous positions inside the penalty area, with his recent goals highlighting the importance of movement and close-range finishing.

His strikes against Coventry City and Aston Villa came from close range, while he scored twice for England against Croatia during the international break, capitalising on space inside the six-yard box and a loose pass.

Arteta believes Saka is increasingly finding the right positions and will be rewarded if he maintains that approach.

‘He could have had another four or five goals by now, easily. But if he continues like that, we know he will score more goals,’ he said.

The Spaniard added that increasing the number of chances Saka receives would improve his scoring output, while making his movement less predictable for opposition defenders.

‘If he misses the chance, so be it. At the end, the more volume we generate, the bigger the probability of him scoring more goals,’ Arteta said.