Arsenal's Arteta Takes on ‘Bad Cop’ Role as Saka Faces Criticism
Arsenal head to Sunderland on Saturday night with a perfect league record, a winning start in Europe and a growing noise around those who have left – and those who remain under the spotlight.
Three Premier League games, three wins. Chelsea beaten with authority. A Champions League opener edged thanks to Martin Odegaard, even if the scoreline never reflected the chances carved out. It has been a statement start from Mikel Arteta’s side.
Now comes a different kind of test: a trip to face Granit Xhaka’s Sunderland, who have four points from four and the sort of awkward, early-season edge that can derail momentum if standards drop even slightly.
Off the pitch, though, the conversation keeps circling back to what Arsenal are without – and what they really have in Bukayo Saka.
Saka under fire
Jermaine Pennant has lit the fuse. The former Arsenal winger believes Bukayo Saka is being judged on reputation rather than ruthless output.
In an interview with GOAL, Pennant argued that the England international is overrated when framed as a truly elite wide forward and claimed the 23-year-old “gets away with murder at times” when his numbers are scrutinised.
“If you start touting players as world-class, one of the best wingers in the world or the best winger in the Premier League, then you've got to be in those numbers. I would say it's non-negotiable,” Pennant said.
He pointed to Mohamed Salah as the benchmark.
“If you look at Mohamed Salah, he did it for nine years straight. In the bracket of goal contributions, it's plus 20.
“I think he [Saka] does get away with a bit of murder at times, the numbers and his stats. He can put in some absolutely stellar performances but if you look deep and you start digging deep and you look at his stats, compared to top wingers around the globe and who played in the Premier League as well, they fall quite short.”
It is a brutal assessment of a player many Arsenal fans view as the heartbeat of Arteta’s project. Saka’s influence on the pitch is rarely in doubt, but the debate over whether he belongs in the absolute top bracket of world wingers is now being dragged into the open, just as Arsenal are trying to turn a strong start into a sustained title charge.
Arteta on Jesus and Martinelli: “Somebody has to be the bad cop”
While Saka deals with external criticism, Arteta has been forced to address some pointed words from two high-profile departures.
Gabriel Jesus, who joined Barcelona at the end of the transfer window, claimed this week that Arsenal abruptly sidelined him before his move. Speaking to SportyTV, the Brazilian said that “out of nowhere they put me to train apart from the group” and that “nobody told me nothing.”
Arteta pushed back, insisting there was communication and respect, even if the message was not what the player wanted to hear.
“Very surprised [to hear], to be fair, especially because with Gabi [Jesus]. I had an individual talk in the dressing room,” Arteta said. “I don't know what words were said, [but] it's fine. The words that we used were all about gratitude.
“I don't know, it's OK. Sometimes I understand that when you have to deliver bad news, or news that people don't expect, somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be and I understand.”
Arteta also referenced Leandro Trossard’s behaviour since his own exit. The Belgian, sold to Besiktas in July, was back in the stands to watch Arsenal’s win over Chelsea – a detail the manager used to underline the club’s ongoing connection with former players.
The Arsenal boss was additionally quizzed about Ian Wright’s recent comments. The club legend had admitted he felt “uncomfortable” with what he saw as a lack of dialogue around Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League earlier this month.
Arteta’s stance remained the same: hard conversations happen, not everyone leaves happy, but someone has to carry the responsibility for those decisions and the way they are delivered.
Arsenal arrive at the Stadium of Light chasing a fourth straight league win, with their manager openly accepting the role of enforcer and their star winger suddenly under forensic examination.
The results are there. The questions, clearly, are not going away.
