Bukayo Saka is one of Arsenal’s most important players.
The Englishman has been Mikel Arteta’s most consistent performer since he took the Gunners job in 2019, and he is now among the best wingers in the world.
The one thing every Arsenal fan is worried about with Saka is how many games he plays. The 23-year-old hardly ever gets a break, and that increases the risk of injuries.
However, neither Saka nor Arteta is worried about that because of the Arsenal number seven’s discipline behind the scenes at the club.
What Bukayo Saka is doing at Arsenal to stay away from injuries
Saka rarely ever misses games due to injury.
The attacker is among the first names on the team sheet every single week, and he’s almost always available despite getting kicked all over the place by opposition defenders.
Every time Saka goes down after a challenge, Arsenal fans’ hearts skip a beat – that’s how important he is to the supporters and is also why all of us beg the referees to protect him.
The Arsenal number seven knows that all the great players face the same treatment from opponents. That’s why he has decided to focus on himself to make sure he stays away from injuries.
The Evening Standard reveals that Saka has ‘studied his own game’ and is learning how to avoid dangerous tackles he’s often at the end of.
To add to that, the report claims that Saka ‘has become a slave to recovery, with a strict post-match diet and sleep routine’.
He also regularly has ice baths, sauna sessions and massages to make sure his body is in the best possible condition at all times throughout the season.
This discipline behind the scenes has convinced both Arteta and Saka that there is no reason to be worried about burnout, even though he’s closing in on 300 senior appearances for club and country at the young age of 23.
Cristiano Ronaldo will approve Bukayo Saka’s behind-the-scenes routine
Saka has admitted that his role model is Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend who is still going strong at the age of 39.
The Portugal international’s talent, ability and work ethic make him the great player he is, but Ronaldo has publicly attributed his longevity to what he does behind the scenes to recover.
“In football, you have basic points – from training well to eating properly to drinking properly and so on – but recovery for me and from my point of view is the most important thing,” Ronaldo told Men’s Health.
Saka idolises Ronaldo and that’s perhaps why he is being just as disciplined as the Portuguese superstar with his work behind the scenes.
We’re sure Ronaldo will give Saka a thumbs up for giving importance to recovery – that will prolong his career and help him become a superstar like his idol.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
