Bukayo Saka has indicated that he is approaching his peak performance level for Arsenal this season, following a focused approach to his off-season and training. Saka returned to the Arsenal squad for the Community Shield, playing his first minutes of the season and contributing to a 3-0 lead against Manchester City.
His performance in the first Premier League game of the season against Coventry highlighted a return of the acceleration and sharpness that had been a hallmark of his play. After the match, Saka suggested that a combination of limited minutes at the World Cup and a deliberate break followed by early training have contributed to his current form.
"I was training a lot so I could be ready for the start of the season and ready to help the team in the way I know I can," Saka stated. "It was more about balancing my time off and not having too much of a break. I took seven days off and then started to train again."
Saka added that he has "put in a lot of work since then and I'm feeling good. I just tried to come back in good shape, so I'm on top of my body." This motivation appears to stem partly from the disappointment of England's performance at the World Cup, which led him to return to training a few days earlier than usual.
"The World Cup didn't necessarily go how I wanted it to, for myself and for the team as well," he said. "I felt really hungry after the World Cup, after the season ended. I was looking forward to this new season."