{"id":1367174,"date":"2024-10-31T13:25:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T13:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1367174"},"modified":"2024-10-31T13:27:23","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T13:27:23","slug":"bukayo-saka-arsenal-europe-top-creator","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/bukayo-saka-arsenal-europe-top-creator\/","title":{"rendered":"Bukayo Saka: Is the Arsenal winger Europe’s leading creator?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal<\/a> supporters were smiling when Bukayo Saka was announced as part of the lineup to face Liverpool.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With central defensive lynchpin William Saliba missing for this crucial top-of-the-table match, the Gunners could hardly afford to be without another star player.<\/p>\n

Saka was named captain in Martin \u00d8degaard’s ongoing absence. The Norwegian playmaker has been sidelined for six consecutive Premier League matches due to a persistent ankle injury. Last season, the Norwegian playmaker was by some distance the club’s most creative player, having created 102 chances (2.9 per game). His impact though has not been as strongly felt this campaign, as Arsenal’s number seven has stepped up in \u00d8degaard’s place.<\/p>\n

[dugoutvideo id=”eyJrZXkiOiIiLCJwIjoic3F1YXdrYSIsInBsIjoiZjBEVXZyWkwifQ==” partner=”squawka”]<\/span><\/p>\n

In the game against Liverpool, Saka broke the deadlock in a match that ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw, albeit during the 85 minutes he was on the field, he did not create a single chance, which is something he’s been doing plenty this season.<\/p>\n

After the first nine rounds of the 2024\/25 Premier League season, in which Saka missed one game, he has created more chances than any other player in the league this season (27). If we expand into Europe’s top five leagues and focus on big chances created, only Barcelona’s in-form forward Raphinha (14) surpasses Saka (12), while rising star Lamine Yamal (11) is the only other player in double digits.<\/p>\n

Out of the chances created, seven have been successfully converted, placing Saka in the lead for this season’s playmaker award. Additionally, no other player in the mentioned competitions has recorded more assists, with Saka tied with former teammate Nuno Tavares, who is now at Lazio.<\/p>\n