Salah vs. Saka: Who Owns the Right Wing in 2025-26?

Let's get one thing straight from the jump: Mohamed Salah is a living legend. What he's done for Liverpool since arriving in 2017 is nothing short of historic. But he's not getting any younger. Bukayo Saka, on the other hand, is just hitting his stride, a genuine superstar for Arsenal and England. The question for 2025-26 isn't just who's better, but who's got the brighter future on that right flank.

This past season, 2023-24, Salah still put up insane numbers despite missing time with injury and AFCON. He notched 18 goals and 10 assists in 32 Premier League appearances. That's a direct goal contribution every 96 minutes. His chance creation was still elite, carving out 63 opportunities for teammates. The underlying numbers are wild too: 3.8 shots per 90 minutes and 1.9 key passes per 90. He completed 1.3 dribbles per game, a slight dip from his peak but still effective. Where he did struggle a bit was in front of goal, missing 27 big chances, which, for a player of his caliber, raises an eyebrow or two.

Saka, meanwhile, was Arsenal's undisputed talisman. He played 35 league games, bagging 16 goals and 9 assists. That’s a goal involvement every 128 minutes, a step behind Salah's efficiency. His chance creation numbers were solid, 58 chances created, but again, a shade below Salah's output. Saka's dribbling, however, was a standout feature, completing 2.1 dribbles per game. He was often double-teamed, drawing 79 fouls throughout the season. The big chances missed stat for Saka was 18, a significant number but less glaring than Salah's.

Here's the thing: you can't compare a 22-year-old to a 31-year-old directly without context. Salah, even in what some considered a "down" year, was still operating at an elite level. He hit double-digit assists for the third time in his Premier League career. He also became the first Liverpool player to score 20+ goals in all competitions in seven consecutive seasons. That's a testament to his freakish consistency. Saka, though, carried an immense load for Arsenal, especially in the absence of Gabriel Jesus for stretches. He became the youngest Arsenal player to reach 50 Premier League goal contributions in February 2024.

Looking ahead to 2025-26, it gets trickier. Salah will be 33. Historically, wingers, especially those who rely on explosive pace and agility like Salah, start to see a decline around this age. We've seen it with Sadio Mané leaving Liverpool for Bayern Munich at 30. Salah’s contract with Liverpool is up in the summer of 2025. If he signs a new deal, it’s unlikely he’ll maintain his current wage demands. If he moves to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere, this whole debate is moot. Assuming he's still in the Premier League, I'd project Salah for around 14 goals and 8 assists in 2025-26. His chance creation will remain high, maybe 55-60, but his dribble completion might dip to 1.0 per game. The big chances missed could still hover around 20 as he tries to maintain his output.

Saka, by 2025-26, will be 24 years old, arguably entering his prime. He’ll have two more seasons of Champions League football under his belt with Arsenal. His goal numbers have climbed steadily from 11 in 2022-23 to 16 in 2023-24. I see him hitting 18-20 goals and 10-12 assists in 2025-26. His chance creation will likely exceed 65, becoming Arsenal's primary creative hub. Dribbles completed will stay strong at 2.0+ per game. His big chances missed might even reduce slightly as his finishing becomes more refined, perhaps 15-16.

This season, 2023-24, Salah was still better. The raw numbers, 18 goals and 10 assists in fewer games than Saka, speak for themselves. His per-90 output was simply superior. Even with the missed big chances, his overall impact and efficiency were higher.

But for 2025-26? Saka takes the crown. Salah’s age will finally catch up, even slightly. Saka’s trajectory is still ascending, and he’ll be the undisputed right-wing king. He’ll be leading Arsenal to a title challenge, while Salah will be battling Father Time.