Mikel Arteta has unlocked a new dimension to Bukayo Saka, but it spells bad news for Eberechi Eze
Bukayo Saka was not supposed to start against Wigan in the FA Cup, but Mikel Arteta will be thanking his lucky stars that he did.
Riccardo Calafiori pulled up in the warm-ups, meaning the England international was reinstated to the starting lineup, and the Gunners went on to take a 4-0 lead in the first half on Sunday, 15 February.
Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were all on target, helped by an own goal from Jack Hunt, as Arteta‘s side advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Despite playing a League One team, Arteta put out a star-spangled front line at the Emirates Stadium, wanting to get the job done as quickly as possible before making changes.
Mikel Arteta starts Bukayo Saka out of position vs Wigan
By the 60-minute mark, Saka, William Saliba and Madueke had all been taken off, with all eyes already on the Premier League clash against Wolves, but it was still enough time for an experiment.
Instead of playing in his usual right-wing role, Saka was placed at attacking midfield, pushing Eberechi Eze backwards, where he notched two assists from a deep-lying position.
Supporters were instantly impressed by their right-wing superstar, who, in just 45 minutes, had proven his ability to play out of position, causing far too many problems for Wigan.
He created one chance, completed 96 per cent of his passes, recorded an xA (Expected Assists) of 0.32, fired off two shots, completed 67 per cent of his dribbles and won 86 per cent of his ground duels [FotMob].
He was also fouled three times, winning important free-kicks for his team.
Eberechi Eze is unlikely to benefit from this Arsenal experiment
While it was only an experiment, Arteta can take a lot of confidence from it, and that could help Madueke gain more valuable minutes on the right flank ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
However, it could have repercussions for Eze. Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard were all missing for the game, leaving a spot open for him in the centre of midfield.
When the Premier League rolls back around, those missing stars will be thrown straight back into the starting lineup, likely booting the former Crystal Palace man back to the bench.
This key change could also be the difference between the Gunners lifting silverware at the end of the season and going home empty-handed again, so it is an exciting moment for the supporters.