Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed he's challenged Bukayo Saka to aim for a staggering two to three goals in every match.
The England international has shown an increased threat in front of goal this season, often drifting into more central positions to find scoring opportunities typically associated with strikers rather than wingers.
While Arteta's comments, made to Sky Sports, likely carry a touch of humor, the Spanish tactician appears keen to instill a "goal machine" mentality in Saka, drawing parallels to legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who transitioned from wingers to prolific forwards.
Arteta explained the strategy behind Saka's repositioning: "The closer he’s in around the box, shorter distances, closer to the goal. We know the outcome of that and generating volume of these kind of actions is going to only increase his numbers and the impact on the team.”
Responding to whether he'd set specific goal targets, the Gunners boss stated: "Two or three per game and the contribution has to be that you go with that mindset every time to the pitch or in training. I think you’re going to like at the end of the season what happens.”
Saka remains a beloved figure at Arsenal for his pivotal role in the club's resurgence. However, he wasn't at his absolute best for much of last season, and injuries have been a recurring issue for the young star who has played a significant amount of football.
If Arsenal can successfully transition Saka into a more central role, it could be a game-changer. The team currently lacks a consistent 25+ goal-per-season scorer, and Saka stepping up could alleviate pressure on forwards like Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz to carry the main scoring burden.
