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Arsenal fans were unhappy with Bukayo Saka starting the UEFA Champions League group game against RC Lens on Tuesday (October 3).
Fans argued that Saka shouldn't be starting every game and should be given a rest in games that the team could navigate without him. All nine of the English winger's appearances this season have been starts, with the 1-0 EFL Cup win against Brentford being the only game he wasn't used.
Saka's importance in Mikel Arteta's team is undeniable, with the winger scoring five goals and providing four assists this term. His latest contribution was a goal as Arsenal beat Bournemouth 4-0 in the Premier League on September 30.
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However, with the league game against Manchester City lurking around the corner, fans argued that Saka should have been rested against Lens. Instead, he starts in a frontline that also features Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard.
Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard make up the midfield three, while Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu start at the back. David Raya continues to start over Aaron Ramsdale.
It's arguably a full-strength XI from Arteta just days before their league clash against Manchester City on Sunday (October 8). One fan tweeted:
"Saka should be resting ffs"
Here's a list of tweets from the Gunners fans after seeing the starting XI against Lens:
The Gunners won their Champions League opener 4-0 against PSV Eindhoven at home. They're atop Group B, which also has Sevilla and Lens.
Mikel Arteta gives Bukayo Saka injury update before Arsenal's clash against Lens
Bukayo Saka had a major injury scare in Arsenal's 4-0 win against Bournemouth. He hobbled off the pitch in the 76th minute, getting replaced by Portuguese playmaker Fabio Vieira.
Ahead of the game against Lens, manager Mikel Arteta gave an update on the 22-year-old winger's situation. He said, via the club's website:
"He’s (Saka) fine. He’s much better. Obviously he took a big knock, but he’s recovered well, and he trained today."
It remains to be seen if Saka will play the full 90 minutes or will be taken off early to preserve him for the City game at the weekend. The Cityzens' perfect start to the league season ended last weekend with a 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
They remain atop the standings with18 points from seven games, one more than the Gunners. The two teams were involved in a tightly fought title race last season.
