Bukayo Saka's Surprising New Role for Title Chase: Three Potential Arsenal Lineups After Arteta's Bold Move

THE transfer window shut two weeks ago – but Mikel Arteta suddenly has a new weapon in the title race.

was always going to be central to Arsenal’s pursuit of the Prem, yet no one thought that could literally be the case.

Bukayo Saka was played in attacking midfield against Wigan on SundayCredit: Getty

But the Gunners’ 4-0 thrashing of Wigan on Sunday in the has given Arteta food for thought as the run-in truly begins.

Saka was shifted from his usual role on the right wing and caught the eye playing as a No10.

It was a forced change after and had to move from midfield to left-back.

Saka was parachuted into the starting XI at the last minute and captained the side from the middle of the park.

Arteta often bangs on about his desire to be unpredictable with his team selection – and this was the perfect example of that.

What greater curveball can there be than the boss moving the position of his star player.

Rival managers will now be wondering if Arteta will do it again, and he will be tempted to.

Saka misplaced just one of his 26 passes on Sunday, while Christian Norgaard and were the only Arsenal players to win possession more times than him.

The star managed all that despite coming off at half time in a pre-planned sub.

Arteta clearly had one eye on Wednesday’s huge trip to Wolves, when Arsenal can go seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Prem with a win.

to keep his place in midfield for that game, and maybe even Sunday’s trip to Tottenham.

The Gunners are without and Mikel Merino due to injury.

Captain is a doubt due to a knee issue, which leaves just as an attacking midfielder option.

Eze picked up two assists against Wigan, but in the game before that at he was hooked at half time as Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw.

The 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes on Sunday, however his place is under threat as Arteta is open to using Saka centrally again.

The Arsenal boss said: “That’s something that’s a possibility.

“I wanted to try it, and we might use it in the future. There are still so many games, competitions and different scenarios to play in this season, and that’s a possibility that we have.”

Mikel Arteta has hinted that he could continue to play Saka centrallyCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

Wigan was not the greatest litmus test for trialling Saka in midfield, but Arteta should not fear doing it again.

Saka is so good in tight areas due to his technical ability and he thrived centrally on Sunday by getting on the ball more.

The way he combined with was encouraging and they linked up superbly for Arsenal’s third goal.

The pair have been friends since childhood and share a good connection on and off the pitch.

Arteta will surely be tempted to roll the duo out against Wolves, not least because Madueke has been in fine form lately.

The winger bagged the opener against Wigan and now has three goals in his last five games.

Madueke could keep his place in the team if Saka plays as a No10 – and Arteta has explained why is not opposed to that.

Asked what he likes when Saka plays centrally, the Spaniard said: “He’s closer to the goal.

“It’s a bit more difficult for the opponent to get his reference constantly.

“He can interchange positions with a wide player as well, and he’s so good at picking those spaces. When he’s there, he can really hurt you with the ball.”

Noni Madueke and Saka could play together if Saka is deployed in midfieldCredit: Getty

It feels unlikely Saka will suddenly start playing in midfield every week – especially when other players return to full fitness.

But Arteta has at least planted the seed in opposing managers’ heads, who will be wondering if he sticks with it.

And Arteta does have a history of running with experiments when the results are positive.

It was this time last year that Merino was first deployed as a makeshift striker. By the end of the season, he was starting in a semi-final.

Going back further, Havertz was signed to play in midfield and not up front.

The original plan for was to play him in front of the defence and not as a box-to-box midfielder.

Havertz, Merino and Rice have all evolved under Arteta.

Could Saka be the next one to do so?

THREE WAYS ARTETA COULD USE SAKA

SHOULD Arteta continue with his experiment of Saka in midfield, he will have plenty of different options to trial.

Arsenal’s squad is stacked full of talent after Arteta lined his dressing room with elite depth this summer.

Even with the injuries to Merino, Havertz and Odegaard, Arteta can call upon players that will be able to damage to most teams.

Here SunSport Arsenal reporter Joshua Hall breaks down three ways the Gunners boss could deploy Saka in midfield…

SOLO MISSION

Arteta could opt to play Saka as the lone No10, playing his star man in front of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.

This would give Saka so much freedom to go forward, with a defensively solid pivot behind him that is also more than capable of offering attacking threat when he needs support.

Arteta started using Kai Havertz in this role before the German suffered his injury setback and it had worked to good effect.

Havertz registered four goal contributions in his last four appearances before his injury.

RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB

Saka is used to operating in the right half spaces for Arsenal and has made that flank his own since he broke into the team.

Playing him as the right No8 would allow him to occupy areas that he knows best, while still giving him license to drift in central positions and influence the game from there.

Importantly, it also means Arteta can continue to use Noni Madueke on the right wing and work off his connection with Saka.

Madueke, who partnered well with Saka during that 45-minute spell against Wigan, has started converting his threat into end product in recent weeks.

The former winger has three goals and one assist in his last five games in all competitions and is thriving for the first time in an Arsenal shirt.

Playing up top in this formation would also give Arsenal an immense level of unpredictability, with the Brazilian so often dropping deep and drifting wide to cause chaos alongside Saka and Madueke.

Rice and Zubimendi could still work alongside Saka in this formation, but Rice would be operating in the left No8 role he has had so much success in this term.

LEFT WITH NO CHOICE

If you are going to try something new, why not lean into it?

Arteta could push Saka out into the left No8 position, bringing Ebere Eze up to partner him and leaving Declan Rice as the lone No.6.

This formation would be very front-footed, but would give Arsenal an unbelievable amount of attacking threat with players all over the pitch that can produce something special.

Saka has already been trialled at left wing on a few occasions this season and has looked dangerous when he gets into the final third on the left side.

Having Trossard out wide, who is often keen to cut inside, would compliment Saka’s ability from wide areas and make Arsenal unpredictable down that wing.

The downside, however, is that Zubimendi would be forced out of the team.

The Spaniard has been one of Arsenal’s best performers this season and leaving him out would be a bold decision from Arteta.