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Mikel Arteta has hailed Bukayo Saka\u2019s determination and intelligence with the Arsenal star set to defy the odds and play today despite injury concerns.<\/p>\n
Arsenal news, exclusives and analysis<\/p>\n
Arsenal take on Bournemouth on Saturday as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and close the gap to leaders Manchester City.<\/p>\n
Given his abilities, Saka is practically undroppable and has now played in 86 consecutive Premier League matches \u2013 a club record \u2013 starting this campaign with three goals and two assists so far.<\/p>\n
However, it looked as if that run would come to an end, after the winger limped off during last Sunday\u2019s North London Derby, with Arteta revealing on Friday morning that the England star \u2013 alongside three others \u2013 haven\u2019t trained at all.<\/p>\n
But it transpired later that evening that Saka and co. have indeed travelled with the rest of the squad to Bournemouth and is expected to start at the Vitality.<\/p>\n
Given his young age and the amount of fouls he receives \u2013 over 70 since the start of last season \u2013 it is a wonder how the 22-year-old is able to play so often.<\/p>\n
\u2018I think I talked about it over a year ago, it\u2019s his mentality. If you want to be the player that he wants to be, you need to have that mindset that you want to play every single minute,\u2019 Arteta said on the matter in his pre-match press conference.<\/p>\n
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\u2018You prepare yourself to play every single minute at your best. Don\u2019t just be there but make a contribution to a team to win games and that\u2019s changed in him; the way he prepares himself, the way he\u2019s always talking to people, the way he sets demands on himself.<\/p>\n
\u2018The support is good around him. He\u2019s got a lot of ingredients, who knows how long that run can go. We have to protect him, that\u2019s for sure. And we have to make sure that we understand when is the right moment to give him that.<\/p>\n
\u2018But there is something within that is growing and that\u2019s a really important part of his game.<\/p>\n
\u2018I think with experience he\u2019s recognising those situations much better and he\u2019s exposing his body much less in the previous seconds before the action actually happens. That\u2019s something that he\u2019s doing, that we\u2019re working on and it will protect his physique, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n
\u2018Just understanding that it\u2019s not a coincidence. And sometimes, as well, your teammates play you, I call them, hospital balls. So they give you a ball that can take you directly to hospital.<\/p>\n
\u2018So don\u2019t play those balls in unnecessary moments. Sometimes it\u2019s the problem of the player who gives the ball. Sometimes it\u2019s the previous movement and your lack of activity in the previous seconds that expose you in that position.\u2019<\/p>\n