Do Arsenal fans need to be concerned about Bukayo Saka?

A lethal cocktail of injuries and sickness left Arsenal short of frontline options on Thursday and will similarly hamper rotation prospects this weekend – circumstances that have raised questions about Bukayo Saka and his need for a well-deserved break.   

Although Mikel Arteta made several changes for the midweek trip to Lisbon, our starboy once again kept his spot out wide and completed game number 35 across all competitions this season, with the November Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton remaining his only absence from first-team selection in 2022/23.

The relentless workload is part and parcel of elite sport and the boss has spoken candidly before about the high standards demanded from top players, once insisting they must be able to play “every three days”. However, recent performances (including our Portuguese excursion) suggest fatigue is now setting in among the squad and ever-present talents, like Saka, might need more protection if we are to maintain our current momentum.

Reasons for and against Arsenal fans’ concerns in relation to Bukayo Saka’s minutes.

Concerns for the 21-year-old’s fitness are compounded by increasingly desperate opposition who delve into the dark arts to restrict his on-field influence. Last month, these furtive tactics were laid bare by Telegraph reporter Sam Dean as he revealed defenders have averaged one booking for every ten fouls on Saka this campaign, while the England man picks up a yellow card for every 4.8 offences he commits.

This extraordinary statistic signifies that the youngster is being targeted in matches and receives bizarrely strict treatment from officials, with the lack of adequate protection only intensifying fears he will one day sustain a serious injury.

Despite our mounting unease, comparisons with other distinguished talents indicate Saka’s game time is far from exceptional in European football. For example, his 2,746 minutes this year are comfortably eclipsed by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior (3,339) and Mo Salah of Liverpool (3,143), while the Reds legend is currently on course to exceed 4,000 minutes for a sixth consecutive year – a tally Saka is yet to hit in his burgeoning career.

The data proves such regular involvement is definitely manageable and perhaps, as Arteta argues, required of truly great players. Furthermore, Arsenal no doubt conduct frequent evaluations on Saka’s well-being and are fully aware of how much action he can tolerate, with the club never likely to play him at the expense of personal welfare.

To his credit, Arteta mostly limits the Hale End man to cameos on European occasions and will naturally call upon a world-class asset when available. Meanwhile, an unfortunate spate of offensive injuries has forced his hand of late and, if Saka is fit and happy to feature, there is little reason to leave him out.

Tricky Premier League assignments and upcoming EURO Qualifiers mean a break is probably not on the horizon for Saka, but his incredible resilience and consistently impressive displays suggest he is ready for the challenge.

He’s a tough cookie, and I think he’ll carry on.