%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka is in doubt for Crystal Palace, but should the club err on the side of caution?
Over the past month, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has had to rotate his squad with the Champions League in mind, and he might have to do it again.
With PSG coming into view, the Gunners face Crystal Palace prior to their semi-final clash against the French powerhouse, but once again, Arteta will have a balancing act to perform when it comes to his squad and in particular, Bukayo Saka.
Having been on the receiving end of a nasty tackle by Leif Davis, which resulted in the defender being sent off just after the half-hour mark, Saka managed to play on, but was taken off after 57 minutes, which left many wondering if Saka had been injured due to the tackle.
As it turns out, Bukayo was taken off as a precaution, with one eye on the upcoming games, but how will Arteta approach the Palace game with PSG coming up?
Should Arteta rest Saka vs. Palace?
There is merit to the thought of letting Saka rest before PSG, but it is also worth pointing out that after Palace, the Gunners have six days until they face the French side. Is that ample time for Saka to recover? Yes, but is it worth the risk?
We have to give that a resounding no.
Arsenal sits five points clear of Manchester City in third with a game in hand with just five games left, so one could say that the Gunners are in a good spot to secure Champions League football again.
But will Saka be a part of the Palace game?
"We have to wait and see how he reacts after the session, but it’s nothing too serious," Arteta said via arsenal.com.
But then could Saka play against Palace if he had to?
"If we want to, I think he would have a good chance to play tomorrow," Arteta added.
So, Saka, if Arteta wanted him to, he could, but just because he can, doesn't mean he should.
One can easily make the case the Gunners can't win against PSG without Saka, so wrapping him in cotton wool might be the safest thing to do.
Yes, there are league games to play, but Champions League is clearly the more pressing need, and because of that, Saka might have to be content with sitting this one out.