Mikel Arteta admits something ‘tricky’ keeps happening to Bukayo Saka at Arsenal

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Bukayo Saka has returned from injury as if he never left, but something is troubling the Arsenal star.

Saka returned to a remarkable reception at the Emirates after spending over 100 days out of action due to a hamstring injury. 

The winger’s time on the sidelines added to the pressure of Arsenal’s woeful injury list this season, but fortunately, he’s returned as if he were never away. 

With the Champions League semi-final in sight, Mikel Arteta will need Saka at his best to trouble Paris Saint-Germain, just as he did Real Madrid. 

• READ MORE: Owen Hargreaves thinks he knows what Real Madrid would’ve privately said about Bukayo Saka after Arsenal beat them

Mikel Arteta opens up about Bukayo Saka being targeted 

Though the focus of Arsenal’s season is on where the Champions League could take them, there are still duties to tend to in the Premier League.

Such comes as a bit of a concern for Arteta, who will be eager to preserve his Arsenal squad ready for the two-legged semi-final against PSG. 

Against Ipswich Town, there was an injury scare as Bukayo Saka was involved in a red card challenge, a reckless tackle that resulted in Leif Davis being sent off. 

Arsenal supporters fumed as Saka was booed by Ipswich fans after the tackle, and it’s something that Arteta admitted is a problem for the winger. 

“It is tricky sometimes, the worst thing you can do is start reacting,” Arteta told the media in a press conference.

The Arsenal manager then offered a word of advice for Saka, who is consistently fouled and jeered by the opposition. 

“He needs to stay focused and make sure the noise doesn’t affect his game, especially his decision making.” 

Riding high on emotion, much induced by the crowd at Portman Road, Saka fired several shots wayward of goal as he headed into the dressing room at half-time, desperate to get on the scoresheet.

Most fouled Arsenal players in 2024/25 Premier League

The 23-year-old didn’t get his goal against Ipswich, but what he did get was an early substitution and an injury scare.

Saka was spotted receiving treatment on the bench, sending fans into a frenzy and reinforcing Arteta’s concern for his player’s physical and mental state. 

It’s understandable why Saka is fouled so much, as his style of play is one of trickery and surpassing his marker, but just how much does the Hale End graduate get hacked down?

Interestingly, Saka isn’t Arsenal’s most fouled player in the Premier League this season, as that title belongs to Leandro Trossard.

Saka is second in the list, with the rest of the top five most fouled Arsenal players made up by Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey.

If it were up to Arsenal fans, Saka would be wrapped up in cotton wool before the Champions League semi-final, with all eyes on whether the forward is protected against Crystal Palace.