Saka not justifying £300,000 per week pay, Arsenal captain tears at miss-firing Gunner 

By our reporter 11.10.2026
Former Arsenal captain David O’Leary said striker Bukayo Saka is not living up the expectation of being Arsenal’s highest paid player.
In their game against Leeds on Saturday Saka did not provide any excitement for the home team in their 2-1 win. He even missed a glorious chance in injury time to extend the lead.
Saka signed a massive £300,000 per week and £15.6 million annual pay in February 2026 that runs until June 30, 2030. But according to O’Leary who was one time Leeds United manager, Saka needs to raise his game and prove he is worth the pay.
“I honestly don’t think he is [in top form],” O’Leary said during a chat on talkSPORT.
“I really like the guy. But I do think one thing, seeing him grow up and get into the team before everyone knew how good he was, I think he goes down too much now.
“I think he’s looking for that touch to go down and the player I saw before that was much more positive, he was not going to let the full-back put him on the deck, or anybody else.”
O’Leary said Saka need to rediscover himself and prove he is one of the best players in England.
“He’s not the player that he was, without a doubt. He’s still a top player, but is he the player that got this fantastic new contract at Arsenal to make him one of the top-paid players in the country? I don’t think so at the moment.
“I don’t know what’s happened. But when I look at the team and how it’s progressing, whose playing well and how great Declan Rice was yesterday, I think Saka has to step up again.”