Bukayo Saka is overrated and ‘always seems injured,’ according to former Manchester United and England full-back Paul Parker.
The England winger remains a fixture in the Gunners side although he has not been in his finest run of form so far this season.
The 23-year-old has scored just three times in 15 appearances in all competitions this campaign, with Mikel Arteta’s team as a whole not really firing on all cylinders.
Parker reckons the Gunners are missing a player like the one they let go over the summer, with Emile Smith Rowe departing for London rivals Fulham.
The former Red Devils defender is clearly a big fan of Smith Rowe, and maybe not so much of Saka and certainly not Gabriel Martinelli.
‘I think players like him (Smith Rowe) are what Arsenal need more than Martinelli and Saka,’ Parker told bettingexpert.com.
‘Saka is a bit overrated and he always seems injured, especially if Arsenal is behind in a match.
‘Him and Ødegaard together would have been a great duo, but again, I think it was the right decision for him to leave, and also for Arsenal at the time, even though things might have changed now.’
Parker really likes Smith Rowe, but admits that Arsenal were probably right to sell him if Arteta had little intention of picking him on a regular basis.
‘He is a brilliant player, but I don’t think Arsenal are regretting that they sold him,’ he said. ‘It’s always easy to say that they should have kept him because of the injuries, but he wanted more game time and he couldn’t get that at Arsenal.
‘But I think he is better than Martinelli, even though they are not similar players. He is just so good and the way he runs with the ball and the way the ball never leaves the grass. He is a wonderful player with a great future.’
Saka is currently dealing with an injury problem after limping out of Arsenal’s draw with Chelsea before the international break.
He pulled out of the England squad for the Nations League games against Greece and Ireland and whether he will be back this weekend to play Nottingham Forest is yet to be seen.