Bukayo Saka hopes the Arsenal winger has not given a ‘secret’ away after revealing a way to stop the England star from playing well whilst discussing always being fouled.
The 22-year-old is the 18th-most fouled player through Europe’s top-five divisions so far this season. Referees have brought play to a halt 49 times during Saka’s 25 appearances during Arsenal’s 26 Premier League matches. It is also enough for him to rank fourth in the division.
Just Bruno Guimaraes (78), Jordan Ayew (76) and Anthony Gordon (50) have won fouls over Premier League matches this term more than Saka. Guimaraes is also the most-fouled player in Europe’s top leagues. Hugo Duro (67) leads La Liga and Lewis Ferguson (60) tops Serie A.
Bukayo Saka is the fourth-most fouled Premier League player in 2023/24
Teji Savanier (23) also tops Ligue 1 and Xavi Simons (53) leads the Bundesliga. Saka edges Kai Havertz (31), Eddie Nketiah (26), Gabriel Jesus (25), Gabriel Magalhaes (22), Gabriel Martinelli (21) and Martin Odegaard (20) for being fouled with Arsenal, too, per WhoScored.
Saka is even also already closing in on his tally of 65 through 38 Premier League fixtures last term. The Arsenal academy product further led the Emirates Stadium team’s chart for being fouled in the English top-flight in 2022/23 with the division’s 10th-highest overall total, too.
Crystal Palace forward Ayew led the Premier League for winning fouls last season with 90 in 38 appearances. Newcastle United midfielder Guimaraes also ranked second last season on 83 from 32 outings. Jesus was the second-most fouled Arsenal player over 2022/23 on 56.
Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka takes defenders ‘kicking me’ as a ‘compliment’
Yet Saka has now stated that the Arsenal sensation takes being fouled as a ‘compliment’. He sought to speak with some defenders when the number of fouls against the winger grew to understand their reasoning. Now, Saka laughs when fouled as it proves they fear his threat.
The 32-cap England dynamo also looks to laugh when fouled to keep his head. Saka realises that he can underperform if the Arsenal ace lets being taken out get under his skin. That has worked a trick for boss Mikel Arteta this term with Saka scoring 13 goals and assisting eight.
“I just think it’s me,” Saka has detailed to beIN SPORTS. “When I go on the pitch, I’m there to have fun and to enjoy. I would say I learned a lot over the last few seasons, when I started to get more and more tackles and defenders have started to enjoy more and more kicking me.
“I spoke to a few defenders and now I understand it. So, for me when I see a defender trying to smash me, as long as he doesn’t get me, I’m laughing or I’m smiling because I take it as a compliment. So, we’re all just trying to do our best for the team.
“I just try and keep my temper because I know when I do I lose my head, I don’t play well. I hope I haven’t given a secret to the opposition there.”
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