Arsenal have been heavily reliant upon Bukayo Saka this season. The club's top scorer has developed significantly this season and will be expected to continue on this pathway to the elite level in the next campaign.
However, it has become apparent how tired Saka is in the second half of the season. The weight of being the creative and goalscoring spark for Arsenal has clearly taken its toll.
When looking at Saka's numbers, it is unsurprising that he has 13 goal contributions in the first half of matches but just five in the second. With Nicolas Pepe being so disappointing in his cameos this season bar Wolves, Arteta has been reluctant to rest the England international.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta blames 'Premier League rules’ for January exodus that might cost Arsenal top four
Subsequently, when asked ahead of the Everton match this weekend, Arteta confirmed that he needs the break — highlighting that a plan was in place.
“He needs a break, that is for sure,” Arteta said. “He has played a lot of minutes this season, and he played a lot of minutes last season.
“You expect your important players to do so, to have that ability and show the quality that Bukayo has shown consistently throughout the season. But obviously, you have to bear in mind that he needs to rest at some stage. That is something we really need to think about, the plans for him in the summer.”
Asked whether he would be speaking to Gareth Southgate, Arteta confirmed he would be. Adding, other national coaches would be communicated with about the wider squad too.
“Yes, we are going to do that,” the Spaniard said. “We are going to talk to every manager that is responsible for our players - how they are thinking, show them what they have done, how we have done it and what we expect them to do in the future as well. Everything has to be connected and related to the aim of protecting the player and getting the best out of the player.”
Next season Arsenal will have European football. Most likely, it will be the Europa League that Arteta and his side will contend with.
Saka will be an important part of the squad, but Mikel Arteta needs to ensure he has competition to push the 20-year-old to be at his best however, also to provide quality cover in rotation. It is expected that his current rival will depart.
football.london understands that Pepe wants to leave Arsenal. He recently signed on with a new agent and has tasked them with getting him a new club for the next season.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of wide players in the lead up to the summer transfer window, such as Cody Gakpo, Moussa Diaby and Serge Gnabry. The former is more of a left-winger, but the latter pair would certainly add quality to the Gunners’ right flank.
Arteta enjoys players with versatility, and Saka’s ability to play on the left would suit signing a quality wide forward with their own characteristics of performing highly in different positions. Alongside the roles of striker, central midfield and full-back, a wide player seems a higher priority than perhaps many expected.
That said, Reiss Nelson is due to return after an impressive loan spell with Feyenoord. He has two goals and four assists in his last four Eredivisie matches.
With one year left on his deal, his future is not assured. However, his Arsenal future is not entirely over, although he will almost certainly want assurances over game time.
