Arsenal next transfer already having massive Bukayo Saka impact and he could explode this season

Arsenal have the early favourite to be named PFA Player’s Player of the Year this coming season in Bukayo Saka.

Dennis Bergkamp, Liam Brady, Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry (twice) are the only others to win the award while playing for the Gunners. Saka, though, is their most recent recipient of any PFA honour, being voted Young Player of the Year for the 2023/24 season.

He followed Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, Nicolas Anelka, Paul Merson and Tony Adams in taking that trophy home. However, none of those went on to win the top gong, as Saka is tipped to.

Betfair prices the Arsenal player at 13/2, with Florian Wirtz second favourite at 7/1. The summer signing is just ahead of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden.

Declan Rice is the next shortest-priced Arsenal player at 9/1, level with Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah. Alexander Isak, Alexis Mac Allister and Virgil van Dijk are all 10/1.

Saka, though, stands out at this stage, and Arsenal’s summer transfer business plays a part in that. Their agreement to sign Viktor Gyokeres means the winger will finally have a centre-forward to convert more of the chances he creates.

He has been the club’s top goalscorer in three of the last four years. Kai Havertz is the closest a striker has come to being the team’s leading scorer after ending last season on top with 15 goals.

Arsenal have to hope Gyokeres exceeds that amount this coming season, and Saka should set up plenty across the campaign. He has not previously won the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award. However, the player managed ten assists in just 25 appearances last season.

That total was eight short of Salah, but only Anthony Elanga (11) and Jacob Murphy (12) had more. Saka’s numbers should only rise without a long-term injury affecting his involvement, plus the presence of Gyokeres.