Mikel Arteta has told Football London that Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka is ‘really fatigued’ after last night’s Europa League tie with Benfica.
Arsenal have been heavily reliant on Saka this season, with the youngster playing more minutes than any other outfield player at the Emirates Stadium.
It is testament to Saka’s ability that he is now one of the main players who Arsenal turn to when they are looking for a hero.
And he helped to secure a dramatic victory against Benfica last night, despite being so tired.
Saka set up Arsenal’s first and last goals in their 3-1 victory over Benfica, as he kept pushing to the end.
And Arteta admitted after the game that the teenager is very tired due to his exertions.
“He’s really fatigued,” Arteta said. “He’s played a lot of minutes. He hasn’t had much rest. We asked him to go again and produce these moments and the boy’s done it.”
Arteta has spoken about the need to rotate Arsenal’s youngsters previously, but Saka is very rarely taken out of the Gunners’ line-up now.
Arteta’s comments surely do throw question marks over whether Saka will feature at the weekend against Leicester City though, as Arsenal surely won’t want to be taking any risks with their prized prospect.
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