Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka finds himself at the centre of a growing selection headache for England manager Thomas Tuchel, despite his established role in the national team setup.
The Right-Wing Battle Heats Up
Bukayo Saka has become a fundamental component of the England squad since his senior debut in 2020, accumulating 48 caps and 14 goals for the Three Lions. However, his position on the right flank is under increasing scrutiny from determined competitors within the national team camp.
West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen, who started ahead of Saka in England's recent victory over Albania, has openly discussed the intense competition for places. Speaking to the Independent, Bowen acknowledged the quality he's up against: "What I'm up against is Bukayo [Saka], Noni [Madueke] is injured for this camp, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden can all play there - you're talking about world-class, elite players and I'm in the same category as them."
Arsenal Connections and Managerial Expectations
The competition takes an interesting twist with Noni Madueke now joining Saka as both an England and Arsenal team-mate following his summer transfer from Chelsea. Although fitness concerns have temporarily sidelined Madueke, his anticipated return adds another dimension to the selection dilemma.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has made his expectations for Saka explicitly clear, stating the winger's international goal tally needs improvement despite his record of 14 strikes making him Arsenal's highest-scoring England representative. Tuchel remarked in October: "This has to be more [goals for England]. It's not enough. He needs to keep on going."
Saka himself has embraced this challenge, confirming: "The way I perform for Arsenal, I want to take it into England and perform better in games and be more effective. That is always my plan."
Broader England Implications
The situation reflects England's growing depth in attacking positions, with several Arsenal players now featuring prominently in the national setup. Ebere Eze has established himself as a regular, while Myles Lewis-Skelly remains on Tuchel's radar despite missing the latest international fixtures.
Bowen summarised the competitive spirit driving the squad forward: "For me, it's about keeping pushing myself and keep pushing Bukayo as well. Give the manager a headache and give Bukayo a headache as well."
With the next international window not until March, Saka returns to Arsenal focus on domestic matters, though his performances at club level will undoubtedly influence his standing for England's 2026 World Cup campaign, where his colleagues maintain constant pressure for starting positions.
