Mikel Arteta told to drop Bukayo Saka with Arsenal star’s form a World Cup concern for England

Bukayo Saka looks low in confidence, and his current form for Arsenal will worry England ahead of the World Cup.

That’s the view of Gunners legend Ray Parlour, whilst Ally McCoist has called for Mikel Arteta to drop the winger from his starting XI.

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Saka had another quiet performance for Arsenal on Sunday evening as they lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.

The 24-year-old has netted just nine goals and assisted seven others in 42 appearances this season, and hasn’t scored in his last five.

Reacting to the final on talkSPORT Breakfast the following morning, Arsenal ‘Invincible’ Parlour said: “Too many people had off days.

“Saka, he didn’t have a good game… He’s out of form, maybe lost a bit of confidence, I don’t know, belief?”

McCoist responded: “I said maybe three or four months ago, I thought [Noni] Madueke, at that particular time, was a better prospect.”

World Cup worries

Saka is in the England squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan this month, with both coming live on talkSPORT.

He is also a likely selection for the World Cup this summer, but he may not arrive with the Three Lions in the best possible shape.

“It’s not ideal this year, going into the World Cup as well, if you’re an England fan,” said Parlour. “He’ll probably be playing on the right-hand side.”

Arsenal fan Piers Morgan also joined the show and revealed his belief that fatigue is playing a role in Saka’s drop in form.

“I just think that we’ve got to have some difficult conversations at the moment.

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“I think Saka looks exhausted, and that’s not just an issue for Arsenal, it’s an issue for England at the World Cup.

“I don’t know why he didn’t start Madueke instead of Saka, because Madueke was rested earlier in the week.”

Should Saka be dropped?

Later in the show, McCoist introduced the new section called ‘Petit’s Perspective’, with Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit joining the panel.

He once again raised the topic of whether or not Saka should in fact be dropped from the Arsenal team.

“I have said for weeks, ‘I love Bukayo Saka’, I do. However, I think the form has dipped a little bit… I don’t know (why).”

McCoist added: “I’ll tell you what I think it is, I just think it’s a drop in form, I don’t know whether it’s a confidence thing.”

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Parlour then asked him what he would do if he was in Arteta’s shoes, and if he would omit Saka from his starting XI for a few games.

“I maybe would,” McCoist said. “Because I think you’ve got to pick your strongest team. We can argue about the goalkeeper position

“But I think, at this moment in time, you two guys know far more about Arsenal than I’ll ever know, I think Madueke deserves the starting position more than most, in that particular position.”

“Let’s answer the question, are we leaving him out?” McCoist asked. “I think you’ve got to, I really do.

“I think, actually, it might benefit the team and him at the same time, if you get him out for a couple of games.

“He’s a fantastic player and will continue to be a great player but at this moment in time, I just think he might need to be taken out.”

Bukayo Saka has been called up to the England squad for the March internationals, but will only join up with Thomas Tuchel’s side after the Uruguay game.