Mikel Arteta must not - under any circumstance - start Bukayo Saka when Arsenal lock horns with Everton this weekend. The Toffees will host the Gunners at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon as they both look to climb the Premier League table.
Saka marked his return from injury with a goal in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old winger, who had spent the last four months nursing an injury, replaced Ethan Nwnaneri in the second-half and he hit the ground running.
With about a quarter of an hour or so left on the clock, Saka doubled the North Londoners' lead. Gabriel Martinelli helped Mikel Merino find the England international, redirecting the cross to the back post with a lovely flick.
Saka was left unmarked and nodded the ball past Bernd Leno. The Hale End graduate wheeled away in celebration before running over to the bench and embracing Sam Wilson, who helped him recover from hamstring surgery.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Arteta heaped praise on Saka. The Arsenal boss said: "I think it's a beautiful moment to see how much our people love, respect and admire Bukayo. He's not a surprise to any of us and I think the best example is his reaction.
"Immediately after scoring a goal, what does he do? He goes and says thank you for all the hard work that all the sports science guys, physios and everybody involved in the recovery have done for him to be in the condition that he is. I think he lifted the stadium, the energy and it's great to have him back."
Arteta added: "He was very positive. I think the first [game] is always the one, how am I going to feel? Because now I have a different opposition in front of me, different demands and pressure. He dealt with it really well."
While the Spaniard was impressed by how well Saka managed to acclimatise to the pace of the Premier League, that does not mean he should start against Everton this weekend. Due to the nature of his injury and tenderness of his recovery process, the Arsenal talisman should remain on the bench, for now.
Saka played for about half an hour on Tuesday night. That's more than I thought he would get in his first game back, but perhaps he's a lot fitter than many think.
That said, Saka should play no more than 35 minutes when Arsenal face Everton on Saturday afternoon. There is no benefit to starting him at Goodison Park. Yes, the Gunners might have a title race on their hands, but if they can't beat the Toffees without him then they don't deserve to be Premier League winners anyway.
Arsenal will manage just fine. Saka can be brought on at around the 60th minute – or maybe even later if the comfortably cruising to victory. Arteta needs to find the right balance; too many minutes and Saka risks aggravating the muscle injury; not enough minutes and he won't be able to build any momentum.
Ultimately, the North Londoners need Saka in the best possible condition when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League. Initially, I had the Arsenal talisman down to come off the bench in the first leg of the quarterfinals, with the aim of starting the return fixture.
But, with 30 minutes or so already in the tank, now I wouldn't be surprised if he starts against Los Blancos at the Emirates Stadium. As it stands, the Champions League looks to be a far more attainable than the Premier League – so that must influence Arteta's management of Saka...
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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