Bukayo Saka has answered his critics in the most emphatic way possible — not with words, but with goals. Despite some Arsenal supporters questioning whether he has fully recovered his form after two injury-interrupted seasons, data from Gradient Sports places him as the best-performing player in the Premier League this season, with an overall grade of 88.5.
A new mindset in front of goal
Manager Mikel Arteta publicly challenged Saka to start scoring "two or three goals per game" ahead of Arsenal's match against Lille. The 25-year-old did not waste time proving his intent — he came off the bench, provided an assist with his first touch, and then struck a goal in the 71st minute, all within six minutes of entering the pitch.
That strike, swept home from Kai Havertz's cut-back, was Saka's fourth goal of the season across all competitions. He has also netted twice on international duty with England. Arteta believes the tally could be considerably higher, noting that Saka missed one-on-one opportunities against both Napoli and Leeds. "He could have had another four or five goals by now, easily," the Arsenal manager said.
Elite numbers back up the eye test
The statistics make a compelling case. In the Premier League this season, Saka is averaging 0.50 open-play expected goals per 90 minutes — nearly twice his output in any previous Arsenal campaign. Only Thierno Barry and Erling Haaland have generated more expected goals in the division this season, and both are out-and-out strikers.
Three of his goals this season have come from inside or just outside the six-yard box, reflecting a deliberate shift in how Arsenal are positioning him. Arteta has spoken about moving Saka into more central, dangerous areas, rotating him with Havertz and restoring his partnership with Martin Odegaard. "That is the kind of unpredictability we have with that player," Arteta explained, "otherwise we know how the opponent is going to defend him."
Saka also ranks in the top three Premier League players for shots on target and penalty-box touches, and leads the entire division in fast breaks. Rob Berwald of Gradient Sports told Sky Sports: "The reason he's graded so highly is that he's executing well across so many different categories." According to Gradient Sports' grading system, which measures quality of execution rather than raw outcomes, Saka outperforms the Premier League average for wingers in passing, shooting, crossing, ball carrying, duels, and one-vs-one defending.
Completeness sets him apart
What makes Saka's profile so rare is the sheer breadth of his contributions. He may not produce the flashy dribbles of some wingers, but his decision-making under pressure is consistently elite. His tackle resistance — the ability to hold the ball in tight situations — is among the best in the league, making him a threat both on the flank and in central zones.
One illustration of his efficiency came against Lille: while Noni Madueke, the winger he replaced, had produced 14 unsuccessful crosses before eventually contributing to a goal, Saka delivered an assist with his very first touch. Arsenal team-mates Declan Rice and Odegaard also grade highly, with scores of 87.3 and 84.9 respectively, just outside the top five.
An evolution still in progress
Arteta has shaped Saka's development since 2021, moving him from left-back to left wing before settling on right wing. Now another transformation is under way — turning one of England's best wingers into a consistent, high-volume goalscorer. On current form, Saka is on track to surpass his career-best of 20 goals set in the 2023/24 season. Arsenal, and the Premier League, may not have seen the best of him yet.
