Add as preferred source on Google Bukayo Saka has not been playing his best football recently, and Arsenal fans think that his partnership with Jurrien Timber is impacting him.
The Arsenal vice-captain has just two goals in his last 22 matches, excluding against Everton, which shows he’s been off it over recent weeks.
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The winger was subbed off early against Bayer Leverkusen, and in the first 45 minutes at home to Everton, he once again struggled.
During the clash at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal fans have been slating his partnership with Timber and actually think the Dutch defender is making him worse.
Arsenal fans question Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka’s partnership
Arsenal fans question Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka’s partnership, claiming that the former’s movement is limiting the winger.
Too often, the former Ajax man wants to take up similar positions to Saka inside, whereas Arsenal’s attacker needs someone who can provide overlapping runs.
Ben White is great at overlapping runs and often gets the best from Saka, but Timber has not quite mastered that yet.
Throughout the first half, William Saliba found himself in crossing positions, which should have been where Saka was, and it’s something Mikel Arteta must quickly fix.
On social media, one fan stated: “I think Timber might be a part of the reasons why Saka isn’t getting more goals.
“He’s always ahead of Saka in the box, which means Saka don’t always have the option to do that one-two just as he does with White and Odegaard.”
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Another fan asked the question: “How can Saka and Timber have no chemistry after playing next to each other for two years?”
“Saka needs an overlap. It’s so obvious they’ve got two players every time he receives the ball, Timber needs to switch it up,” claimed another fan.
There were yet more question marks raised over the duo’s partnership: “Timber needs to overlap sometimes, you can’t always go to the half eight, it leaves Saka two-versus-one most of the time.”
Finally, another supporter said: “Arteta needs to fix that right-hand side. Can’t have Saliba as the free guy crossing the ball. Again, Timber should be overlapping from the outside. The setup restricts Saka.”
Timber ended up going off with an issue in the first half and was replaced by Cristhian Mosquera.
The young Spaniard deserves his chances, but, unusually, Arteta is so reluctant to use White, who has been so reliable every time he has featured.
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