Speaking on the Wrighty’s House Podcast, Ian Wright has claimed that Bukayo Saka needs to have a period of rest at Arsenal.
The teenager has single-handedly carried the club at times this season, and Wright believes it’s about time the burden of responsibility was taken off of this young man’s shoulders.
Saka, of course, didn’t play against Leicester in the Gunners’ 3-1 win at the weekend, and Wright says he was happy to see him out of the XI.
“I was pleased to see Saka getting a rest, I was pleased to see that we can win a game without needing to put the burden of it on this poor guy, this 19-year-old,” Wright said.
The ex-striker went on to speak about some of the standout performers in Saka’s absence, before returning to is original point about the teenager.
“You mentioned Bukayo Saka there, about him sitting thinking they’ve won a game without me. I believe he needs rest. He’s taken us through a period and then Emile Smith Rowe came in and joined him, and now Odegaard. People seem to be finding their form.”
Wright may be correct here.
Saka is obviously an unbelievable talent, and in an ideal world, he’d start every week.
However, he’s 19 years old. He’s still developing physically and putting so much toil and stress on him at this age could see him burn out as he gets older.
We’ve seen it far too often where players who come through as teenagers burn out at a relatively early stage in their careers. The likes of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney suffered from this exact fate, and nobody wants to see the same happen to Saka.
As Wright says, the youngster may need a period of rest.
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