England manager Thomas Tuchel has challenged winger Bukayo Saka to find a way to translate his electric Arsenal form over on to the international scene.
Saka netted in Thursday’s comfortable 3–0 friendly win over Wales to take his goal tally for England to 13 goals in 45 games, becoming Arsenal’s leading scorer in Three Lions history in the process.
Tuchel was made aware of this accomplishment after the final whistle, but the England boss was not impressed with that return from a player who has exceeded that goal tally across three of his last four seasons with Arsenal.
“How many goals did he score for England?” Tuchel clarified. “13? One three? It has to be more, it’s not enough.
“He needs to keep on going. I thought it was 30, at least, and then I would have said it’s not enough, because I am never satisfied. He is such a threat for Arsenal in the most difficult league in the world, so why would he not be at international level?
“We have the position for him, he has the attitude, the stamina, the talent, everything to be a top player at international level, and that’s what he has to show. We can just encourage him to be influential, like he was today. Next game, he needs to try to repeat it.”
