Gabby Agbonlahor insists workload on Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is too much after he was taken off against Sevilla
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka suffered yet another injury scare yesterday after he was withdrawn in the closing stages against Sevilla.
The England international landed awkwardly on his ankle and was taken off in the 85th minute and it remains to be seen whether he will be available for the Premier League game against Burnley at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Saka assisted Leandro Trossard before grabbing the second goal as Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners against the La Liga club, and Gabriel Agbonlahor was wondering why manager Mikel Arteta did not take him off in the 81st minute when the Belgian and Gabriel Martinelli made way.
“It winds me up, though,” the former Aston Villa star said on talkSPORT after Alan Brazil claimed he is ‘pretty sure’ Saka will miss the Burnley game.
“Arsenal fans are getting wound up about it. You see two subs getting ready, (Fabio) Vieira and (Reiss) Nelson and you are thinking Saka is going to come off, rest him.
“Who comes off? Trossard, Martinelli. Give Saka a rest! It is like he doesn’t want to bring him off.
Saka has struggled with his fitness this term and has been taken off in a match as a result of a knock for the fourth time.
The 22-year-old was forced off in their Champions League group game against RC Lens last month having also limped off in the two games (against Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur) prior to that match, and Arsenal have to manage his workload well.
It was later revealed that Saka had been playing with a thigh issue, and a hamstring strain kept him out of the Manchester City game.
Saka had featured in 87 consecutive Premier League matches for the Gunners before missing the Man City match, surpassing the record of 82 games achieved by Paul Merson between February 1995 and February 1997 in the process, and it appears a lack of adequate rest is starting to take its toll on him.
Failing to manage his workload could have a long-term effect on his fitness, and Arteta needs to quickly find a solution before things get out of hand.
