Mikel Arteta has admitted that Bukayo Saka's robustness against injuries has dropped, suggesting the Arsenal winger has paid the price of a relentless fixture schedule.
Saka is facing a spell on the sidelines with a quad injury sustained early on during the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich earlier this week. The winger is set to undergo another MRI scan on Friday afternoon to learn the severity of the issue.
Arteta points to fixture demands
An Achilles injury hampered Saka over the second half of last season and during the World Cup, continuing a frustrating theme of fitness issues in recent campaigns. He has also contended with hamstring, hip and thigh problems.
Asked if his ability to deal with a heavy workload is no longer as strong as it once was, Arteta pointed to how much is demanded of players with the current football calendar.
"Well, it's certainly been different in the last year or so," Arteta admitted. "Obviously the demands that we are putting to every player are immense. The amount of games, the intensity of those matches, the international competitions, the times as well between games are getting narrower."
Saka's remarkable run
In 2023, Saka made Arsenal history by featuring in an 87th Premier League match in a row. By the age of 24, he had made almost 300 appearances for club and country.
However, Arteta insisted he does not feel that Saka is at risk of burnout later in his career. "I don't have that feeling at all but something we have to be very mindful of is to create the right ecosystem around the player to fulfil his qualities," Arteta said.
Saka will be absent for Arsenal's match at home to Everton, though it remains to be seen how many more games he will miss beyond that.
Arteta's message to Saka
Despite the latest setback, Arteta warned Saka that he cannot allow his mood to drop around the squad. "Today, just thinking how can I help the team," Arteta said. "I already told them, 'go in that building and be the first one there with a good spirit and energy'."
"Because that's what the team needs. If everyone is like, 'Bukayo, how are you? Are you sad? Are you okay?' That's exactly what we don't need."
"It is what it is. This is part of our job. To have this, to have sometimes a bad result, a defeat, a problem. We need to deal with that. We cannot change that now. What we certainly can dominate is the narrative from here to the Everton game. Together with the best energy and spirit to go and win the game again."
