Southgate needs Saka on the bench tonight

Saka scored v Romania

Well, as an Arsenal and England fan, Friday evening can only be described as frustrating in the extreme. To watch the Three Lions toil with no attacking flair and with a defensive minded double pivot, inclined to pass safely and sideways or backwards, was like, well like watching Arsenal.

The evening was made even more infuriating was the bittersweet experience of watching Kieran Tierney, deliver a man of the match performance at left centre back. Of course, we are well used to Tierney masterclasses but normally whilst playing for the team we want to win. As an Arsenal fan, the annoyance levels were augmented by the fact that Gareth Southgate opted to deprive himself of one of the obvious game changers in his ranks, in Bukayo Saka.

KT shone v England

Much of the media discussion since Friday has centred around the England coach being reluctant to utilise Dortmund’s Man United target, Jadon Sancho. Southgate’s claims that he is protecting Sancho from the nation’s expectations as a youngster in 2021, when he played him in 13 competition internationals from the autumn of 2018 to the autumn of 2020, are frankly embarrassing and laughable. I cannot imagine what Sancho himself must make of it, when Mason Mount, only a few months older, who made is debut later and has less top-level experience, is the fulcrum of the team.

However, while the nation screams for Grealish and Sancho, we Arsenal fans are quietly pondering why Bukayo Saka, having delivered a goal-scoring match winning performance for Southgate only a week or so ago against Romania, was not even an option from the bench being warned by 2 fullbacks, 2 centre backs (one not fully match fit,) and another defensive midfielder, also not fully fit.

Saka for Arsenal and indeed England, has proved he can influence a match from multiple positions, so he simply must be available on Tuesday against the Czech Republic. Like Sancho and Grealish, although I think the latter may start, Saka is an attractive attacking option to add impetus and directness and can do so in three positions. Arsenal’s player of the season could, un-phased, be introduced on the left or the right of the front three or in the Mason Mount floating attacking midfield role.

What was startlingly obvious to everyone watching, apart from the England coaching staff, is that against a well organised low block there must be variation in the attack. England need better runs in behind to pass through an organised defence, or they need players who can beat a man on occasion, so as not to be solely reliant on passing. Saka is a player that is comfortable beating his fullback, something Sterling and Foden singularly failed to do on enough occasions and delivering quality ball into the box. However, he is equally comfortable making well timed runs behind a defence to receive a through pass or chipped ball. In addition, as we have seen so often this season for Arsenal, he can happily receive the ball at pace to feet and play on the half turn, something obviously lacking on Friday.

Equally frustrated

Jadon Sancho has far more experience and is must be frustrated at his lack of opportunity to influence proceedings. He is an out and out attacking winger with a goal threat and would be an obvious option over Sterling, who after a promising opening display was very poor against the Scots. Grealish and Saka can operate deeper and in different roles and could both be considered viable alternatives to Foden and Mount.

I am not advocating Bukayo Saka should start the next vital match but to not have his bravery, directness, trickery, and versatility on the bench, having included him, seems the football equivalent of cutting of your nose despite your face Mr. Southgate.

Since writing yesterday we now know Chilwell and Mount will be missing so Saka will be in the bench. This is the full unedited version of this afternoon’s Sun column.

Dave Seager

Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.

He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.

The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.