Bukayo Saka is capable of playing 70 matches per season, according to Mikel Arteta, who has defended the decision not to rotate the Arsenal star.
Saka has been in excellent form for the Gunners recently and started once again as they picked up a 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday night. The 21-year-old has been a near ever-present for Arteta so far this season and has missed just 179 minutes of club football.
Arteta’s decision not to rest him following a busy period of four games in 11 days came under some scrutiny when Saka went down following Granit Xhaka’s goal against PSV. The young winger appeared in considerable pain, but eventually continued until being replaced in the 85th minute by Reiss Nelson.
With the World Cup edging closer, the fitness of England’s star players is in the spotlight. Reece James, Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker are all currently on the sidelines, battling to be fit for the Three Lions’ first game against Iran on November 21, but Arteta is not concerned about Saka.
“Look at the top players in the world – they play 70 matches, every three days and make the difference and win the game,” he shot back when asked about Saka. “You want to be at the top, you have to be able to do that. And if we start to put something different in the mind of a young player, I think we are making a huge mistake because then [he would] be like ‘no, I don't play now, on astroturf I don't play’.
“I don't want that. I want them to be ruthless every three days. I want them knocking on my door (saying): ‘I want to play, I want to win the game’. There is no fitness coach in the world that is going to tell me that they cannot do it, because I've seen it: 72 games and scored 50 goals. The players that score 50 goals do not play 38 games in the season, it's just impossible.”
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Arteta brushed off the significance of Saka’s knock, adding: “Yeah he got a kick, he was limping a little bit, but hopefully he will be alright.”
While he was not involved in Xhaka’s match-winning goal, Saka was once again one of Arsenal’s bright stars against PSV. He has five goals and four assists in 14 appearances so far this season and is likely to feature again when Arsenal take on Southampton on Sunday.
Arteta has limited his minutes slightly, with the winger only playing half of the available minutes over the two ties against Bodo/Glimt this month.
Saka’s form is so good that Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes he should be a guaranteed starter for England in Qatar. “We've got a World Cup coming up and I just feel now that he's got to be the one that Southgate turns to in that position,” he said on BT Sport. “I don't care who it is – they're not playing better than he is. He's really important right now.”
