Solid win, but Arteta is mismanaging Saka at the moment. He’s started 87 consecutive PL matches, playing the full 90 in virtually all of them. The longest streak for Arsenal since football was invented in ’92, and by far the most of any player in the league currently. For comparison, Wissa is next with “only” 70 - and hasn’t had to play European matches either.
We know he’s been carrying an injury, he was a doubt to even be available yesterday, and frankly, Bournemouth is a game where the rest of the team should be able to cope without him. But playing on until he goes off with the same injury at the 81-minute mark, when you’re 3-0 up, in control of the game, and been 2-0 up since half-time is just silly.
Hopefully, he won’t be out for long now, but if Arteta keeps pushing his luck it will happen sooner or later. The way Postecoglou is managing Son’s time is a smarter way to protect a key player who you want to keep fit all season.