June 28th 2024.
In all of England's Euro 2024 games, Bukayo Saka has been starting on the right-wing. However, there has been some controversy surrounding the 19-year-old's position on the team. Some "Arsenal legends" have suggested that Saka should play at left-back in order to improve England's performance in the tournament. This suggestion was met with criticism from former Manchester United player Paul Scholes.
The Three Lions have not been at their best in the Euros so far, with only one win out of three group games and a total of two goals. Despite this, they have managed to top Group C and will face Slovakia in the last 16 on Sunday evening. One of the main issues for the team has been the absence of left-back Luke Shaw, who is currently recovering from an injury. As a result, right-back Kieran Trippier has had to fill in on the left side, causing a lack of natural width and attacking support for the team.
With no other left-backs in the squad, some have suggested moving Saka into that position. While the 22-year-old did play left-back at the beginning of his career, he has established himself as one of the best right-wingers in the world and has not played in that position for several seasons. But with Shaw's absence, this could be a temporary solution until he returns.
The idea of playing Saka at left-back has caused quite a stir, with Arsenal legend Ian Wright being one of the first to suggest it. However, his comments were met with backlash from Arsenal fans, and Scholes has now joined in, ridiculing the idea on his Instagram story. He wrote, "Making me piss these Arsenal legends trying to get Saka in at left-back because they're afraid he's gonna be left out for [Cole] Palmer," accompanied by a laughing emoji.
It's worth noting that Wright was not the first to suggest this change. Scholes' former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand actually proposed the idea after England's opening game against Serbia. It seems that Saka's potential move to left-back has sparked a debate among fans and pundits alike.
The struggles of Trippier at left-back have also affected the performance of Phil Foden. Some have suggested that Saka could be dropped in favor of Palmer for the upcoming match against Slovakia. There have also been calls for Jude Bellingham to be moved from his No.10 role to a deeper position, but manager Gareth Southgate seems reluctant to do so as it would leave Declan Rice as the only defensive midfielder.
Scholes has voiced his opinion on this matter, saying, "Keep hearing drop Bellingham back next to Rice... piss right off!" It remains to be seen what changes, if any, Southgate will make for the next match. It's expected that Kobbie Mainoo will start instead of Conor Gallagher, while Palmer and Anthony Gordon could potentially come in for Saka and Foden.
As the debate continues, fans and pundits will eagerly await Southgate's decision. But one thing is for sure, Saka's versatility and talent have made him a valuable asset to the England team, no matter what position he plays in.
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