Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta left Theo Walcott ‘wondering why’ he did not choose to substitute Bukayo Saka during the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The 22-year-old played the full 90 minutes in a Premier League fixture for the 12th time this season. Saka has also played into stoppage time in a further three matches this term. While Arteta has only elected to substitute the forward in the 89th minute in two matches, as well.
Saka’s endless spells on the pitch also extend to cup competitions with 90-minute matches against Manchester City in the Community Shield and Liverpool in the FA Cup. He has played for a total of 2,297 minutes through 28 appearances across all competitions so far this term.
Bukayo Saka played the full 90 as Arsenal thrashed Crystal Palace
Saka is averaging at least 82 minutes in each appearance and has only sat out three games this term. Arteta was without the Arsenal academy product with a foot issue in September, a hamstring injury in October and rested him in the Championship League at PSV Eindhoven.
In return for his near-constant place, Saka has offered Arsenal nine goals and 12 assists. He leads the Gunners’ chart for goals scored by two and also assists by seven. Saka’s six goals in 20 Premier League games are one more than Eddie Nketiah has managed so far this term.
Theo Walcott could not understand Mikel Arteta vs Crystal Palace
Saka did not add to his goal involvements as Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 5-0 this Saturday as Gabriel Magalhaes, Dean Henderson (OG), Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli (2) did the damage. Yet he once again stayed on from start to finish to Walcott’s total bemusement.
The ex-Arsenal winger could not understand why Arteta decided against substituting Saka at home to Crystal Palace. Arteta used all five of his permitted changes to switch Trossard, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel out between the 69th and 81st minutes.
Walcott questioned on BBC Radio 5 Live: “As a former player, I look at the bigger picture and now wonder why Bukayo Saka hasn’t been subbed off yet?
“The sort of player he is, the fact he gets kicked all over the pitch most games, Leandro Trossard has just come off, but Saka with all the games he plays is still out there. It will be interesting to see what Mikel Arteta’s next change is.”
Walcott raised his query shortly before Arteta substituted Jesus and Gabriel with his last two permitted changes. Jesus started against Crystal Palace in his return from a hamstring injury. Rice also went off with a hamstring issue but Arteta could have taken Saka off at some point.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
