Bukayo Saka may still be producing goals and assists for Arsenal this season, but his overall influence on matches has become a growing talking point, especially after the narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

For a player who has been one of Mikel Arteta’s most dependable attacking weapons, Saka’s contribution cannot be judged by goal output alone, because Arsenal also need him to create chances, beat defenders and make life difficult for opponents.

Against Forest, the England international struggled to impose himself for long periods as the hosts defended in numbers and restricted Arsenal’s space in the final third.

Although Saka produced an early cross that forced goalkeeper Matz Sels into action, he did not consistently unlock the Forest defence, leaving Arsenal short of the creativity and penetration expected from their most established winger.

The match was anotherr reminder that scoring statistics can sometimes hide a player’s wider influence, particularly when a team relies heavily on one attacker to provide inspiration in difficult games.

Saka is regularly targeted by opposition defenders, who know that limiting his space can disrupt Arsenal’s attacking rhythm, but the challenge is finding ways to remain dangerous even when two players are ready to close him down.

Arsenal’s attacking approach can also contribute to the problem, as predictable wide combinations and a lack of movement around the penalty area make it easier for compact defences to contain their most dangerous players.

However, that does not completely remove the responsibility from Saka, whose ability to make decisive individual contributions has helped establish him as one of the club's most important players.

Arteta must therefore find a way to help his winger rediscover that spark without placing the entire creative burden on him, especially when opponents deliberately organise their defensive shape around stopping Arsenal’s right flank.

There is also a question of whether Saka needs more rotation and tactical variation, allowing him to recover physically while giving Arsenal other ways to threaten opponents rather than repeatedly depending on the same attacking patterns.

The Important distinction is that Saka’s recent struggles to dominate games do not automatically mean he has become a poor player, and one quiet performance against a defensively organised Forest side is not enough to establish a permanent decline.

Nevertheless, Arsenal cannot ignore the concern if their star winger continues to produce goals without consistently influencing the wider flow of matches.

For a team chasing major honours, Saka must remain more than a name on the scoresheet, because his ability to create danger, draw defenders out of position and inspire his teammates could prove just as important as his finishing.

The question now Is whether this is simply a difficult spell against opponents determined to stop him, or whether Arteta needs to make meaningful changes to get the very best out of Arsenal’s number seven again.

Sources: [The Guardian — Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal match report](https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/oct/18/nottingham-forest-v-arsenal-premier-league-live?utm_source=chatgpt.com)