Declan Rice and Noni Madueke respond to Bukayo Saka’s message at Arsenal
Bukayo Saka has taken to social media as the star winger returns to Arsenal ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Mikel Arteta is under pressure at Arsenal to deliver silverware at the Emirates Stadium, and the 23-year-old England international is the likeliest member of the squad to help deliver that aim.
Despite spending a period on the sidelines, Saka notched 12 goals and 13 assists in 37 appearances, keeping the Gunners in the Premier League title race for much of the season.
The London club also made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, finally losing out to the eventual winners PSG, but some fans are beginning to lose patience with the manager.
Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard have both been announced already, with Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera soon to be announced, and the squad is taking shape.
Bukayo Saka returns to Arsenal training
Taking to Instagram (16 July), Saka wrote: “Week 1,” with a battery emoji as the star attacker waltzed back into the training centre following a break away from football this summer.
Current teammates Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Magalhaes all liked the post, joined by soon-to-be-teammate Madueke and Man City‘s Kalvin Phillips.
Mikel Arteta must deliver major title next season
Football Insider verdict
Fans are quickly losing their patience with the manager in North London, and the Spaniard faced the most scrutiny when failing to recruit a new striker either last summer or during the winter window.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus were both stuck on the sidelines with long-term injuries, leaving Arteta to move Mikel Merino out of the centre of midfield to the centre-forward spot.
While the position change paid off, with Merino notching nine goals and five assists across all competitions, it is certainly not the same as signing Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal appear to be closing in on a deal for Gyokeres, even despite all of the hurdles set by the club’s president, and that would send a clear message to the rest of the Premier League.
While Saka is clearly a huge talent, one which supporters hope remains at the Emirates Stadium for the whole of his career, it is impossible for him to carry the entire team on his shoulders.
Martin Odegaard‘s form has dropped significantly as well, but if he had a figure like Gyokeres to aim for next season, fans would see a return of the in-form Norwegian playmaker in no time.