Saka's Back — And So Are Arsenal's Title Hopes (Maybe)
VERDICT: BUY — He blanked in GW31 because he didn't play, not because he's lost it. Arsenal need him, and after that City fixture he's got a dream run.
Right, so Saka put up a zero last week. Terrifying, isn't it? Except he was rested. Didn't even get on the pitch. Before that he'd strung together 13, 5, 2, 9, and 3 — which sounds inconsistent until you remember he's playing 90 minutes nearly every match and Arsenal's title race is making everyone clench. The 13-pointer in GW26 reminded us what he's capable of when things click.
The numbers are quietly excellent. An xG of 6.99 and xA of 5.75 means he's involved in everything dangerous Arsenal do down that right side. His ICT index of 202.9 puts him among the most threatening midfielders in the game... and yet he's only 8% owned. Eight percent. That's differential territory for a premium mid in a top-four side with momentum (71/100, for what it's worth). If you're chasing rank, this is where you look.
Fixtures after City are beautiful. Newcastle at home, then Fulham and West Ham — both FDR 2. That's three matches where Arsenal should dominate and Saka should feast. Yes, you've got to survive that City away fixture first, but if you're buying now you're getting ahead of the template before everyone piles in for the Fulham double.
At £9.8m he's not cheap, but he's cheaper than Salah and playing for a team that's finally looking like they remember how to score goals. Arsenal's momentum is back (relatively speaking), and Saka's the main outlet when they need a goal. The rest in GW31 might actually work in his favour — fresh legs for the run-in.
FINAL TAKE: Differential premium mid with elite fixtures coming. Get him before everyone else does.
If you want more takes that age poorly by Wednesday, head over to fpltouchline.com — we've got all the analysis and none of the regrets (until we do).