Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has affirmed that Bukayo Saka is "fine" after the England attacker was the victim of more rough treatment against Aston Villa on Saturday.
The 21-year-old scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season in a pulsating 4-2 win for the Gunners, who came from behind twice to prevail against former manager Unai Emery.
Saka's contributions helped Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League table over Manchester City, but he was not moving comfortably throughout the 90 minutes after a first-half challenge from Alex Moreno.
The Spanish left-back took Saka's boot clean off, and he managed to play through the pain before dropping to the turf in the 51st minute in a painful sight for Arteta and the travelling fans.
However, the Hale End graduate managed to complete the full 90 minutes after receiving attention on the field, and he drew a total of three fouls on the day.
© Reuters
Arteta was asked about Saka's condition after the game, but the Spaniard had positive news to share to the media, saying: "He's fine - he got kicked quite a lot again, but he's going to have to deal with that, not every week, but every three days.
"Sometimes in training as well. It's his game - teams are not stupid and they want to stop him. We need to protect him."
With nine goals and eight assists to show from 23 Premier League appearances this season, Saka has unsurprisingly been targeted by opposing defenders in recent games, having also been roughed up by Bernardo Silva against Manchester City in midweek.
When asked if officials needed to do more to protect Saka from persistent fouls, Arteta responded: "We will discuss that. We will look at the images again and report it if it's necessary."
In a carbon copy of Arsenal's trip to Aston Villa in 2021-22 - where Saka scored the only goal for the Gunners in a 1-0 win - the topic of the England international needing more protection was a major talking point.
© Reuters
Then-Villa manager Steven Gerrard insisted that Saka was in no position to complain about the physical nature of the game, telling the media: "Listen, it's part of the game. The last time I checked it's not a no contact sport. I think tackles are allowed, I think aggression is allowed, I think physicality is allowed.
"He's a good player, he's an outstanding talent, I love him, but he can't complain about that side. That's football. I'm sitting here now with screws in my hips, I've had about 16 operations. He'll learn and he'll learn quick. Unless they change it to a no contact sport, which I don't think they will."
Responding to Gerrard's comments, Arteta implored the officials to do more to look after his players, saying: "I think Bukayo said he was not going to complain, but he wanted some consistency in the refereeing.
"The only person who can protect the players is the referee because he guides the level of the game and the level of the contact and physicality that is allowed or not allowed in a football match. I think we have to protect our best players and that's in the hands of the referee, that's all."
Arteta also lavished praise on midfielder Jorginho for his "tremendous" display at Villa Park, and Arsenal sit two points clear at the top with a game in hand after Manchester City dropped more points in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Ben Knapton
