Gary Lineker Highlights Bukayo Saka's Goal-Scoring Challenges Amid Arsenal Success

In a recent podcast, Gary Lineker shared his thoughts on Bukayo Saka's performance, praising his creativity while expressing concern over his goal-scoring opportunities. Despite being a key player for Arsenal, Saka has not scored in nearly a month. His recent assist against Brighton marked a significant moment, ending a long assist drought at home. With impressive statistics, Saka remains a vital part of Arsenal's attack, but his ability to find the back of the net is under scrutiny. Discover more about Saka's contributions and challenges in this detailed analysis.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 30, 2025, 15:18 IST

Lineker's Insights on Saka's Game

Gary Lineker has identified a significant area for improvement in Bukayo Saka's performance, even as the Arsenal winger continues to be a pivotal figure for the team lately.

During a discussion on The Rest Is Football podcast, the former England international commended Saka's creativity but pointed out that his role in creating chances has limited his opportunities to score. "Saka contributes a lot, yet he isn't finding himself in goal-scoring positions as often right now," Lineker remarked.

Saka's Contribution to Arsenal's Attack

This season, Saka has been integral to Arsenal's offensive strategy, averaging 2.4 chances created per match, the highest among his teammates. His significance was particularly clear during the Gunners' 2-1 Premier League win against Brighton & Hove Albion, where he assisted Martin Odegaard's opening goal. However, Lineker expressed concern over Saka's recent goal drought.

It has been nearly a month since Saka last found the net for Arsenal, with his last goal occurring against Brentford in early December. In 24 matches across all competitions this season, the Hale End product has netted seven goals and provided five assists.

Breaking the Assist Drought

The match against Brighton also marked the end of an unfortunate streak for Saka. His assist for Odegaard was his first in a Premier League home game at the Emirates Stadium in over a year. He had gone 14 home league matches without an assist, with his last one recorded on November 23, 2024, against Nottingham Forest.

Despite this breakthrough, Saka's overall display against Brighton highlighted his attacking ambition. He took seven shots on goal, the highest by any Arsenal player in a single match this season. His efforts were crucial in securing a vital victory, complemented by Odegaard's goal and an own goal from Georginio Rutter.

Saka's Consistent Performance

Since his debut, Saka has emerged as one of Arsenal's most reliable players. To date, he has accumulated 75 assists in 286 appearances for the club, alongside an increasing goal tally.