One Arsenal star now believes he is ‘much stronger’ than he was five years ago, with Mikel Arteta seemingly playing a big role in this development.
The Basque manager took charge of the Gunners back in December of 2019, with Arteta since transforming Arsenal back into the former Premier League giants they once were under Arsene Wenger, with the Premier League title a possibility this season.
Bringing entertaining football back to the Emirates Stadium, Arteta’s plan to revive Arsenal with a style of play fans are familiar with whilst using one of the youngest teams in the division has paid off big time, with the results in the last two seasons speaking for themselves.
And one player has said he’s benefited massively from playing regularly under Arteta.
Bukayo Saka says he’s grown physically since Arteta’s arrival
Speaking to the Telegraph, Bukayo Saka has revealed that he has grown ‘physically stronger’ since becoming a regular for Arsenal under Arteta, with the winger developing from a Hale End wonderkid into one of the best forwards in world football.
With Saka taking a beating most games and being one of the most fouled players in the Premier League, the 22-year-old has had to learn the hard way to become stronger, yet the results are paying off big time for Arteta and for Arsenal.
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Saka said when asked how he now feels physically after being a regular for Arteta since his appointment in 2019: “I am physically much stronger than I was four or five years ago.
“For each tackle, I have more experience in terms of which ones to go for and which ones to jump, to try to avoid a big tackle. So I am much smarter, as well as physically stronger than I was.”
Arsenal must do all they can to keep Saka fit and healthy
It feels like a miracle of sorts that Saka is yet to suffer from a major injury, with the winger, as mentioned, one of the most fouled players in the Premier League and an attacker who is often doubled up by opposing teams.
Which is why Arsenal must be doing all they can to keep Saka as fit and healthy as possible, with the England international and irreplaceable player for the Gunners if something were to happen.
Indeed, Arteta can arguably be guilty in this regard given how much the Arsenal manager plays the winger, with the Basque coach having opportunities to rest Saka throughout the season.