Arsenal have been told to replace Bukayo Saka after the England winger’s form has been put under the microscope while a signing is being ‘worked on’
Arsenal’s Premier League title pursuit continues when they welcome Everton on Saturday. Following their escape with a draw from their Champions League first leg visit to Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners remain in the hunt to secure an unprecedented quadruple.
Arsenal, who finished top of the league phase following eight victories from eight matches, required a controversial last-gasp penalty from Kai Havertz against his former club to rescue a 1-1 draw. Mikel Arteta will expect an improved performance against the Toffees and in the second leg. The head coach said: “The level of execution obviously has to be better.”
However, it won’t be straightforward against an Everton side pursuing European football under David Moyes. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at the latest Arsenal news ahead of the weekend’s fixture.
Saka replacement
Bukayo Saka requires dropping from Arsenal’s starting eleven, according to former Premier League striker Charlie Austin. The winger’s disappointing recent form persisted against Leverkusen, where he failed to make an impression before being substituted by Noni Madueke on the hour mark.
Madueke delivered a lively performance and earned the late penalty that was converted by Havertz. Austin believes the former Chelsea wide man merits replacing Saka from the start.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “When he’s come on, the performances he’s been putting in warrant starting. But the issue he has is the fact Arsenal’s Starboy plays in the same position as him. It’s going to take the manager to make a brave decision to make that change.
“If I’m Noni Madueke, I’m asking that question, ‘What more can I do?’ Because when he came on, he changed the game in Arsenal’s favour. He got on the ball, ran at defenders and made things happen. In the time Saka was on the pitch, he didn’t.”
‘Working on deal’
Arsenal have reportedly intensified their pursuit of RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba. The Gunners are believed to have monitored the Frenchman during recent Bundesliga matches and have witnessed enough to start investigating a summer move.
French publication L’Equipe claims that Arsenal are ‘working’ on securing Lukeba’s signature and have initiated talks, though it remains uncertain whether these discussions involve the club directly or the player’s representative.
The 23-year-old appears set to leave Germany this summer, with the Premier League or La Liga being his preferred destinations. Previous reports suggested Lukeba possessed a release clause worth approximately £78m, a substantial sum for a defender who would find it challenging to displace William Saliba or Gabriel Magalhaes in the centre of defence, at least initially.
Nevertheless, it’s now claimed that Leipzig would accept a fee ranging between £50m and £60m. Lukeba has been plying his trade in Germany since his switch from Lyon in 2023.