Fans React To Southgate For Playing Arsenal Star Left Wing-back. Gareth Southgate’s decision to play Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka at left wing-back against Italy today, September 23, has disappointed England fans.
The Three Lions enter the Nations League match at the San Siro knowing that a defeat will see them relegated to League B. Southgate was heavily chastised during the summer after his team failed to win any of their four games, including a 4-0 home defeat to Hungary.
Southgate selected his starting team for the match against the European champions, and it resembled a 3-4-3 shape. Harry Maguire, the captain of Manchester United, has received a lot of attention, but Saka’s position on the field also seems to worry some supporters.
The Arsenal winger, who earlier in the day was crowned England’s Player of the Year, has struggled to get the Gunners off to a fast start this year.
When he played on the right wing, he made eight appearances and registered just one goal and four assists for the entire season.
England appears to have a significant problem at left-back. Manchester United’s Luke Shaw is barely playing, and Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell is still recovering from a long-term injury.
Fans took to Twitter ahead of the match in Milan to criticize Southgate’s selection, particularly for putting the winger in an unfamiliar defensive role:
England XI v Italy: Pope, James, Walker, Dier, Maguire, Saka, Rice, Bellingham, Sterling, Foden, Kane (c)
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) September 23, 2022
Southgate picked around 10 defenders in his squad and is still playing Saka as a left wing-back! 😶
— Sripad (@falsewinger) September 23, 2022
Playing #Saka at left back could be when #sOUThgate beats ‘wally with the brolly’ and ‘do I not like that’ as the stupidest things ever an #england manager has done to ‘define’ themselves
— NUFCRant (@NUFCRant) September 23, 2022
Playing #Saka at left back could be when #sOUThgate beats ‘wally with the brolly’ and ‘do I not like that’ as the stupidest things ever an #england manager has done to ‘define’ themselves
— NUFCRant (@NUFCRant) September 23, 2022
Not pleased with the role saka played today 😒#Saka
— ℙå𝕡õ𝕞_𝕩😈 (@KING_GEORGE501) September 23, 2022