Bukayo Saka scored his first Champions League goal against PSV Eindhoven this week. Photo: Getty Images/Stuart MacFarlane
Name Bukayo Saki's best moments. strengths? Most observers would probably point to his ability on the ball or his decisiveness in the final third. Some might say it's his work rate or his tactical understanding of Mikel Arteta's system.
However, there is another quality that is much less attractive, but no less important: accessibility. When Arsenal plays, Saka plays. He is always there, always ready and seemingly always ready to make a difference for his team.
For a 22-year-old striker whose game is built on explosive pace and quick changes of direction, Saka's endurance is nothing short of extraordinary. It's also a record-breaking result: this weekend's north London derby will mark his 86th consecutive league appearance — the longest streak of consecutive appearances by any Arsenal player in Premier League history.
Saka's streak is, in some ways, the longest streak in the entire division to date. Second on the list is Brentford's Ioan Wissa, who has 69 consecutive appearances to his name. In other words, no current Premier League player comes close to matching the physical stamina that Saka has shown in recent seasons.
Such reliability would be impressive for any player in any position, let alone a striker who is so regularly targeted by his opponents. Saka's legs often take beatings and bruises due to his treatment by opposition defenders, many of whom try to kick him out of the game. Since the start of last season he has been fouled 76 times — more than any Arsenal player and sixth in the entire division.
There is no secret to Saki's indestructibility. Arsenal instead view it as a combination of several key factors, including his professionalism, his genetic advantages and his education. Meanwhile, Saka himself is known to be confident in the nutritional value of his mother's Nigerian home cooking.
Longest consecutive Premier League streak to date Most fouls won by an Arsenal player since the start of a Premier League season 2022-2023
Saka, to be clear, is not superhuman. Throughout the season, he endures the bumps and pains just like any other player. The difference between him and most other players is his attitude towards dealing with these problems. Telegraph Sport understands that if Saka feels unwell after the game, he will make it his mission to remedy that in the coming days. Between matches, he considers his fitness an absolute priority.
It helps that Saki has a gym at home and knows how to use it properly. First he listens to the club's strength and conditioning staff, and then he goes off and does what they recommend. It may seem simple, but in the club it is considered a mental skill that helps Saka stand out among his peers.
Saka was spotted on at Arsenal's training ground on designated days off. Photo: Getty Images/David Price
Saka was a renowned schoolboy and, having officially signed with Arsenal's academy at the age of eight, he spent most of his time there. living surrounded by nutrition and conditioning experts. He learned from them, and Arsenal also learned from him. After all, the club's medical department has 14 years of data on his physical condition. They know what he needs and when he needs it.
“We listen to him when he tells us about a problem,” Gary O'Driscoll, the club's recently departed chief medical officer, told the club's website earlier this year. “If he ever comes to us with a minor complaint, we know he means business, so we listen to him because he is one of the most honest people you can find.
“This is wonderful story. You sit there and look for a problem, but even as a child his history in this regard was impeccable. He never had to come to my office to review important scan results.”
Arsenal's longest streak of consecutive Premier League appearances Longest streak of Premier League appearances (all clubs)
Further evidence of the professionalism of Saki Ray Parlor, a former Arsenal midfielder, was provided in a recent appearance on TalkSport. “I was on the training ground not too long ago,” Parlor said earlier this month. “Every player had a day off, but he [Saka] was at home, doing his warm-up on the bike. He didn’t have to be there.”
Lifestyle choices also matter. Saka is no recluse — he bumped into Arteta at a high-end restaurant in Mayfair last season — but he won't be seen running out of nightclubs in the early morning. This world and everything connected with it is simply not for him.
There have been occasions over the last year or so when Arteta has had to face calls to rest Saka. Burnout is especially feared among Arsenal fans. But Arteta always stood firm. Instead of leaving Saka on the bench, he encouraged him to keep going, keep playing and keep leading the team forward, as he did with a goal and an assist against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.
< img src="/wp -content/uploads/2023/09/126770477dd1ca265c6390e79a957d4f.jpg" /> Arsenal's coaching staff and Mikel Arteta worked with Saka to help him avoid a tough time. Photo: @bukayosaka87/Instagram
In training, Arsenal coaches work with Saka on the timing of his shots and the shape of his body when receiving the ball to better protect him from opposing defenders. They will never be able to completely prevent him from hitting, but they are working hard to at least reduce the risk of it happening.
“Look at the best players in the world,” Arteta said last season. “They play 70 matches, they play every three days and they matter. If you want to be on top, you must be able to do it. If we start putting new things into the minds of our young players, I think we will make a huge difference. I want them to be merciless every three days.”
Of course, serious injuries are often the result of freak accidents. And there is no guarantee that Saki's body will remain as strong as it has been in recent years. But this is a young player who seems to make the right decisions at the right time every time, and an ultra-professional footballer who clearly has the determination and «ruthlessness» his coach demands. Arsenal continues to progress, and Saka continues to play.
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