Given how much he's trusted by both Mikel Arteta and Gareth Southgate, it's easy to forget that Bukayo Saka only turned 21 at the start of September. The Arsenal star has already played over 11,600 minutes of senior football for his club and country and was the only Gunners player to feature in all 38 Premier League games last season.
While it's encouraging for Arsenal fans to see one of their own getting regular opportunities for both the Gunners and England, it is also a concern for Arteta. It's rare for a 21-year-old to have already played as many minutes as Saka has, and in a season as congested as the 2022/23 campaign, burnout is a real possibility.
Arteta has previously spoken about Saka's game time and confirmed in May that he planned on speaking to Southgate on how he is used during international breaks. "Yes, we are going to do that," said Arteta.
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"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."
With Saka set to be heavily involved at the World Cup this winter, it is likely that he will need a rest during the second half of the season, and a previous comment from Pep Guardiola may have given Arteta the perfect solution. Using Gabriel Jesus in a different role could allow Saka's game time to be managed when domestic football returns after the World Cup.
"He’s the best striker/defender I ever found to play in the three positions," Guardiola said of his former striker Jesus.
"He runs for everyone and when he scores, I am the happiest man. He can play in the three positions up front and he does it really well."
Arsenal have a lack of options on the right side of their attack, and with Saka's heavy workload a cause for concern, Guardiola's suggestion could solve the issue. Jesus has been used exclusively as a striker so far in his Arsenal career, but Arteta could yet use him on the right to allow Saka a well-earned breather.
Jesus has shown so far that he does his best work as a striker, with seven goal contributions from his first seven games in a Gunners shirt, but Arteta may take note of Guardiola's advice and use him in a different role.
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