London, May 10, 2026, 17:16 BST
Arsenal’s end-of-season push is funneled through a rejuvenated Bukayo Saka on the left, but suddenly there’s trouble on the right. Ben White, whose deliveries have reignited Saka’s play, exited with an injury just 28 minutes into Sunday’s clash at West Ham United. The adjustment was swift: Martin Zubimendi entered and Declan Rice slid over to right-back, all while Arsenal had the early edge.
Which is exactly why the timing matters—Manchester City slashed Arsenal’s Premier League advantage down to two points after a 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday. Pressure on Mikel Arteta’s squad ratchets up, with the run-in offering hardly any margin for error.
Saka flipped the atmosphere earlier this week. According to Reuters, the 24-year-old’s goal versus Atlético Madrid pushed Arsenal through to just their second-ever Champions League final, where Paris St Germain awaits in Budapest on May 30.
Nick Wright at Sky Sports pointed out that White and Saka have “rekindled their partnership” for Arsenal in their last two outings, Fulham and Atlético. Fulham marked their first Premier League start together since December—Saka notched a goal plus an assist, and White found him with more passes than anyone else managed. Sky Sports
Before facing West Ham, Arteta circled back to the idea—Saka’s got “a presence” about him, even “an aura,” with the power to flip a match instantly. “I feel extremely lucky,” Arteta said, talking up the value of having someone Arsenal can rely on, no matter the game situation. Daily Cannon – Arsenal news and gossip
The urgency jumps out in the stats. As FotMob’s Graham Ruthven pointed out, Saka was sitting on nine Premier League goal contributions—goals and assists combined—before facing Fulham. That’s a sharp drop from the 16 he had at the same stage last season. But his recent flurry against Fulham and Atlético has given Arsenal’s attack a lift again.
The big worry is White’s injury. If he’s out for any stretch, Arsenal don’t just miss a body at the back—they’re suddenly without a crucial passing outlet and that right-side overlap Saka thrives on. That’s the very route Arsenal used to get Saka involved early and open up space one-on-one.
West Ham weren’t just there to make up the numbers. Nuno Espírito Santo called the game “hugely important” before things got going, his squad still locked in a relegation scrap. He went with a back five, facing an Arsenal side that stuck with the same lineup from the Atlético victory. The Guardian
City sit ready to pounce on any slip from Arsenal. After City beat Brentford, Pep Guardiola claimed the title wasn’t “in our hands” yet, tossing a wry “Come on you Irons” in West Ham’s direction while his squad watched to see if Arsenal would falter. The Guardian
The Saka issue goes beyond just form at this stage. Arsenal rely on his spark to drive forward, yet he can’t be left so alone that the whole attack bottlenecks through him—particularly tricky if White’s injury forces another change on that right flank.
At this stage, Saka has delivered what Arsenal were missing as things tightened: sharp runs, better finishes, and a presence that forces opponents to adapt. The question now is whether that continues without the teammate whose support let him rediscover his form, even if the absence is brief.
