Mikel Arteta urged to drop ‘fantastic’ Arsenal star after Carabao Cup final defeat

Ally McCoist has advised Mikel Arteta to drop Bukayo Saka after Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

The Gunners were hoping to secure their first major trophy since 2020 at Wembley on Sunday but fell short, losing 2-0 to title rivals Man City.

Arsenal were marginally the better side in the opening 45 minutes and came closest to breaking the deadlock when Kai Havertz was denied by James Trafford.

But Man City dominated the second half, scoring twice in the space of four minutes through Nico O’Reilly to take control of the final.

Arsenal were unable to respond to O’Reilly’s quickfire brace as Pep Guardiola clinched a record fifth Carabao Cup trophy and ended his rivals’ quadruple dream.

While Arsenal left Wembley disappointed, they are still on the verge of a brilliant season under Arteta, leading the Premier League title race by nine points.

The Gunners will also challenge for both the Champions League and FA Cup following the international break but McCoist believes Saka should have a spell out of the team ahead of those games.

Saka has been one of Arsenal’s best and most influential players in recent seasons but has underwhelmed this term, scoring just twice since early December.

McCoist believes ‘fantastic player’ Saka will rediscover his form but says some time out of the team could ‘benefit’ Arsenal, with ex-Chelsea winger Noni Madueke waiting in the wings.

‘I said maybe three or four months ago, I thought [Noni] Madueke, at that particular time, was a better prospect,’ McCoist said on talkSPORT.

‘I’ll tell you what I think it is, I just think it’s a drop in form, I don’t know whether it’s a confidence thing.’

Asked whether he would drop Saka after the international break, McCoist added: ‘I maybe would.

‘Because I think you’ve got to pick your strongest team and Madueke deserves the starting position more than most.

‘Let’s answer the question, are we leaving him out? I think you’ve got to, I really do.

‘I think, actually, it might benefit the team and him at the same time, if you get him out for a couple of games.

‘He’s a fantastic player and will continue to be a great player but at this moment in time, I just think he might need to be taken out.’

Jamie Redknapp criticised Saka after his subdued performance in the Carabao Cup final and said it was imperative for the England star to rediscover his form for Arsenal to win the title.

‘This is where you need your star players to step up,’ Redknapp said on Sky Sports. ‘The player that I feel right now that isn’t performing to the level that he can is Bukayo Saka.

‘I want to see more from him. He’s been a difference-maker for Arsenal for so long, so many times.

‘Of late I haven’t seen that sort of guile and imagination and skill and goals that we need to see from him And he’s got Max Dowman breathing down his neck, Noni Madueke can play down that right-hand side as well.

‘I think maybe even playing down the left, sometimes, Saka. It feels like he’s not getting success against anyone he plays against.

‘I’m a big fan and I love the way he plays but he’s the man who has to start taking the game by the scruff of the next and playing with no fear if Arsenal are going to win this title.’

Arsenal’s first game back following the international break is a FA Cup quarter-final against Championship side Southampton.

Arteta’s side then return to Premier League action against Bournemouth after the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting.

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