'Don't like it' - Arsenal legend fires stern Bukayo Saka warning to England boss Gareth Southgate
.png?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
Bukayo Saka spent time at left-back against Slovakia for England last weekend.
Arsenal legend David Seaman has warned England manager Gareth Southgate to field Gunners starboy Bukayo Saka in a full-back position at his peril ahead of Saturday's Euro 2024 meeting with Switzerland.
The Three Lions booked their place in the quarter-final in dramatic fashion on Sunday, taking the clash with Slovakia into extra time thanks to a 95th minute bicycle kick from Jude Bellingham. Bayern Munich man Harry Kane then got the winner to avoid penalties with a 2-1 victory.
Performances will have to improve if England are to progress further in the competition, with pressure mounting on Gunners stars Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, as well as Southgate. Both the Arsenal men have started every match of the tournament so far and look likely to get the nod against Switzerland.
Saka has played in his usual right wing position during every fixture so far but was moved to left back in an unusual twist from Southgate towards the end of the match on Sunday. The England boss came under fire for the decision and Seaman has now added his voice to those critics.
He told Betway: "I don’t like seeing Bukayo Saka playing at left-back. If I was the opposition, he would be my main target because he’s not a defender. If he starts at left-back, that gives teams a chance to really put him under pressure, and any decent coach will do that.
"Maybe he could play on the left side of midfield, but not at left-back because we need a defender there. The other question is whether you risk Luke Shaw in a quarter-final, because he hasn’t played in such a long time. I don’t see why Trippier has to change, unless it’s through injury. The back four has not really been the problem, and it’s not like the opposition have been getting down our left side. It was happening more against Kyle Walker on the other side.
"Marc Guehi is now suspended for the quarter-final and is also dealing with a shoulder injury. I think he has been really impressive, especially with how he reacted after receiving the booking that ruled him out. Ezri Konsa came on as a substitute against Slovakia, which shows who Gareth trusts in that position. I would imagine that will probably be the only difference with the team when we play Switzerland.
"Hopefully Konsa will be as effective as Guehi has been, and at least he’s now had some game time, so it won’t be brand new to him. It’s not a worry to me at all."
Saka had previously made it clear to the press that he was not thrilled by the prospect of playing the full-back role, even with questions over Luke Shaw's fitness and Trippier not being naturally left footed. He previously said: "I don’t think putting me out of position is the solution."
Southgate has maintained that the move could give England an extra attacking prowess, even if it looked unconventional against Slovakia. The Arsenal man has made 37 appearances for England, featuring at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup before this summer.