Mikel Arteta sets Bukayo Saka target after Arsenal star’s missed chances

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Mikel Arteta has told Bukayo Saka he must target “two or three” goals a match for Arsenal to take his game to the next level.

The England international is the Gunners’ top scorer this season with three goals in the first six Premier League games.

It could, and probably should, have been more than that. Saka was through one-on-one with James Trafford against Leeds on Saturday, but had his effort saved with the final kick of the match.

The 25-year-old also missed big opportunities against Sunderland and in the Champions League win over Napoli.

The winger’s best goalscoring season came in 2023/24, when he scored 16 in the Premier League and 20 in all competitions.

When asked if Saka should be aiming for that milestone again, Arteta insisted the bar needs to be much higher.

Bar raised: Bukayo SakaGetty”No, I think the numbers should go to score two or three per game,” the Spaniard said.

“That’s it. That’s the mindset. And then if you score one, so be it, you score two, so be it, because he has the ability to score in many ways.

“But normally, if you go to all the attackers, and that’s the way, I think you have to attack something. Because if you go ’20, OK, now we are in October, I still have eight months to score 17 more goals.’

“That’s not the mindset, that’s not going to take you there.”

There has been a focus on getting Saka into more dangerous, central positions in the box this season.

His goal in the win over Coventry came from six yards out when the goalkeeper parried the ball. Saka’s winner against Aston Villa was from even closer range after he made a sharp run in front of the defender to turn in a ball across the face of goal.

The theme continued over the international break. Saka’s first goal against Croatia was from three yards out as he found space to be picked out in the six-yard box, and he was in a similar position for his second when pouncing on a loose pass.

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“That is where we need to get him,” Arteta said.

Goalscorer: Bukayo SakaGetty”If he misses the chance, so be it. At the end, the more volume we generate, the bigger the probability of him scoring more goals. He has been getting in great positions, getting shots, getting one-touch finishes and tap-ins.

“That is the kind of unpredictability we have with that player, otherwise we know how the opponent is going to defend him.

“He is doing well. He could have had another four or five goals by now, easily. But if he continues like that, we know [he will score more].

“When he talks about scoring a certain amount of goals, he needs to be thinking about scoring a certain amount of goals per game. If that shifts, that mentality, he will get into those positions and score more goals.”