Former Arsenal defender David O’Leary has raised doubts over whether Bukayo Saka is currently justifying his status as the club’s top earner, saying the England winger has not been matching the standards that earned him a lucrative new deal.
O’Leary made the comments after Arsenal’s 2-1 Premier League win against Leeds United at the weekend. While acknowledging Saka’s quality and importance to the side in recent seasons, he argued that the forward’s present performances fall below his previous peak.
Saka agreed a fresh Arsenal contract in February, a deal that made him the highest-paid player at the north London club. He has been among Arsenal’s key performers in recent years and remains a central figure for both club and country.
“I really like him, but I genuinely do not believe he is playing at his best,” O’Leary said on talkSPORT. “There is no question that he is not the player he used to be. He remains a very good player, but is he currently the player who secured that outstanding Arsenal contract and became one of the country’s best-paid players? At the moment, I do not think he is.”
Saka will have an opportunity to respond on the pitch when Arsenal take on Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday, as the club looks to continue its European campaign with another victory.
