Mikel Arteta admitted Bukayo Saka's robustness against injuries has dropped as he suggested the Arsenal winger has paid the price of a relentless fixture schedule.
An Achilles injury hampered England’s Saka over the second half of last season and during the World Cup, continuing a frustrating theme of fitness issues in recent campaigns.
He has also contended with hamstring, hip and thigh problems. Asked if his ability to deal with a heavy workload is no longer as strong as it once was, Arteta pointed to how much is demanded of players with the current football calendar.
"Well, it's certainly been different in the last year or so," Arteta admitted.
"Obviously the demands that we are putting to every player are immense. The amount of games, the intensity of those matches, the international competitions, the times as well between games are getting narrower.
"So look at us now, we have to play on Sunday afternoon, then we have to go away, we have to play on Wednesday evening, then we have to play on Saturday. So you go less than 66, 67 hours between games.
Injury blow: Bukayo Saka limped out of Arsenal’s draw at Bayern Munich early on
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"On top of everything that we are putting, every hour is important. If they can support all the demands that we are putting to the players in that sense, that would be as well really appreciated from everybody.
"And I'm saying for every team as well, because we know what we are demanding from those players."
In 2023, Saka made Arsenal history by featuring in an 87th Premier League match in a row. By the age of 24, he had made almost 300 appearances for club and country.
However, Arteta insisted he does not feel that Saka is at risk of burnout later in his career.
"I don't have that feeling at all but something we have to be very mindful of is to create the right ecosystem around the player to fulfil his qualities," Arteta said.
"We really need to understand whenever he comes back, how we are going to manage his load, what he is capable of to sustain having an impact in the team."
Saka will be absent for Arsenal's match at home to Everton, though it remains to be seen how many more games he will miss beyond that.
Despite the latest setback, Arteta warned Saka that he cannot allow his mood to drop around the squad.
"Today, just thinking how can I help the team," Arteta said. "I already told them, 'go in that building and be the first one there with a good spirit and energy'.
"Because that's what the team needs. If everyone is like, 'Bukayo, how are you? Are you sad? Are you okay?' That's exactly what we don't need.
"It is what it is. This is part of our job. To have this, to have sometimes a bad result, a defeat, a problem. We need to deal with that.
"We cannot change that now. What we certainly can dominate is the narrative from here to the Everton game. Together with the best energy and spirit to go and win the game again."