In a season where Arsenal are five points top of the Premier League going into the World Cup break, it's difficult for them to have too many complaints. One grievance that has persisted throughout the campaign, though, is the harsh treatment opposition defences seem to be giving Bukayo Saka.
The 21-year-old winger has been fouled 25 times already this season in all competitions and is well on course to match the tally of 59 fouls he suffered last time around. One of these tackles was so severe that he was forced to limp off during the 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, and understandably there is concern for the health of one of Arsenal's most important players.
Perhaps though this is just a fact of life. Saka has attempted 55 dribbles in the Premier League this season. Surely its inevitable that some of those will end with him being fouled? When asked about the subject Mikel Arteta's response was fascinating.
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"The referees have the duties to deal with that, the better the players become the bigger target they become because people try and find ways to stop him, that is why football has very clear rules, what you can do and what you cannot do and that is the referees' job," he began before going on to add: "Yes, there is a part we can do better and we have to be more intelligent."
Despite the pleas of a room full of journalists, Arteta was elusive when clarifying what exactly this was. His primary response to a peppering of questions was a customarily brief "I can't tell you that." But that has set minds racing. What specifically could he mean?
In fairness to Arteta, he was willing to divulge that the change he felt needed to come was a tactical one. If we look across the times Saka has been fouled this season so far a pattern does start to emerge when it comes to the challenges that are doing him the most damage. The tackle that forced him from the field against Forest is a perfect example of it.
Within the first minute of the game, Ben White plays a ball to Saka down the right touchline that is behind the Hale Ender forcing him to come towards play with his back facing the opposition goal.
He is tightly marked by Lodi who makes an attempt to get the ball but is late and kicks straight through Saka's calf.
Giving Saka passes like this is problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, it leaves him exposed to the kind of rough treatment administered by Lodi that day. Secondly, it reduces the amount of control the attacker has over the duel.
If Saka receives the ball side on, or in front of him then defenders are more reticent to get too close to him for fear of being beaten by his quick feet. Take this instance from the recent win over Wolves as an example.
Saka receives the ball side on from Martin Odegaard. Hugo Bueno does not want to get too tight too early, giving Saka control of the duel and reducing the chance of him taking a kicking.
Saka then beats Bueno before driving to the byline and delivering a cross.
Perhaps this is what Arteta means when he says his side can control "the type of ball we give him and when we give him certain balls." If Saka receives a pass when he is tightly marked and facing the opposition goal, a tackle is far more likely to be attempted than if he receives it side on or in front of him - thus increasing the risk of a kicking. Of the 25 fouls Saka has been on the end of this season nearly half (12) have come from instances like this.
Of course though Arsenal can't protect him entirely and there might even be a part of them that doesn't fully want to. Saka's ability to receive the ball in tight areas can be very useful when it comes to beating opposition presses when the Gunners try to play out from the back. It can also be a massive pressure reliever when they find themselves under the cosh.
The final match of this season's Europa League group stage against FC Zurich was a prime example of that. Saka (circled, below) receives the ball on the edge of the Arsenal box and is quickly closed down by three Zurich defenders.
This is the kind of ball that has resulted in Saka getting a fair few hefty tackles, but in this instance he's able to turn away from the pressure and release Arsenal on a counter.
This kind of skillset is also particularly useful to Arsenal as they look to break down tightly packed opposition defences. So although Arteta might want his team to protect Saka slightly more with the passes they play him, he won't want them to get rid of balls that find him with his back to goal altogether.
Regardless of what Arsenal do, the reality is that Saka could probably do with a little more protection from the officials. Since his calls for more protection were churlishly dismissed by Steven Gerrard in March, only five of the 41 fouls committed on the 21-year-old have resulted in bookings, while Saka himself has received six from just 31 fouls committed.
While the officiating may still be taking some time to catch up, it appears Arteta and the Arsenal staff are ready to do their part to ensure the protection of one of their most important players.
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