GUNSTOPPABLE

Arteta backs starlet Saka to beat fatigue and still run the Arsenal show

LEICESTER ARSENAL

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King Power Stadium: Tomorrow, 12 noon

BY JOHN CROSS

MIKEL ARTETA has told Bukayo Saka he will have to carry on going like a marathon runner.

Saka, 19, has become invaluable to Arsenal’s season, he was the Europa League hero in Athens on Thursday night and even the manager admits he would “ideally” need a rest ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Leicester.

But Arteta insists Saka will have to keep on going in a vital few weeks for the club. The Arsenal starlet has arguably become their most important player.

He has already provided 18 assists in his career and, despite playing 35 games for club and country this season, there is no room for a break.

“There are things and professions that are much harder than ours where people keep on going and going – when someone is running a marathon and chasing somebody,” said Arteta.

“Fatigue is mental a lot of times because if things go well and you score a goal, I’m sure you will still have the energy to sprint and celebrate that goal.

“But when you have to track back you say you’re tired? I don’t really agree with that, if you are on that pitch – until you are absolutely done – you have to give your best.

“It is not only him, there are a lot of players who have played so many minutes, you could see the Benfica players and sense their fatigue and the changes they had to do.

“But when things go well the energy that creates sometimes overcomes fatigue and I prefer not to talk too much about fatigue.

“If we have to rest players we have to rest them because we have to keep them fit as much as possible. But as well you have to develop that mental toughness you need when you are in competitions you want to win.” Saka has become

HE’S BIG BUKS Bukayo Saka has been a huge plus for Mikel Arteta’s tough season one of the best young players in England and, because of his importance to Arsenal, maybe even the very best of the post-2000 generation.

Arteta added: “He is a boy that is constantly willing to learn, to get better, to work on the things he can do better and he is very humble and hard working.

“When that happens normally, and you have the talent he has, you can go a long way.”

Arteta believes his opposite number tomorrow, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, should be a contender for Manager of the Year even with what Pep Guardiola is achieving at Manchester City.

“Obviously what Manchester City are achieving is phenomenal,” said Arteta. “It’s unprecedented and that has to be rewarded.

“What Leicester have done in recent years, what they have already achieved this season, with the level of consistency that they’ve shown in the Premier League, I think Brendan winning the award is something to consider.”

ROY HODGSON says Ruben Loftus-Cheek owes him a favour for helping the midfielder have the season which earned him a starring role at the 2018 World Cup with England.

But the Crystal Palace manager is hoping LoftusCheek (above) repays that favour by having an off day for Fulham tomorrow.

Former England coach Hodgson’s tongue is firmly in his cheek though – because he knows Loftus-Cheek and Fulham arrive determined to claim the three points they need in their fight to stay up.

Loftus-Cheek spent a season on loan at Palace after recovering from back problems at Chelsea in 2017-18, just as Hodgson (inset) arrived at the club.

The midfielder made 25 appearances as he helped steer Palace away from the drop zone, scoring two goals and booking himself a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Russia, where he played a leading role.

Hodgson said: “I have been very impressed with Ruben. He has got stronger and stronger, just like he did with us. Now he has got a run of games behind him, he’s one hell of a good player.

“I hope now the injury days are over and he can be playing football on a regular basis, showing his skills like he has been doing these last few weeks.

“But I would be very happy if he decides not to do that against us. You could argue he owes me a bad game!

“Ruben was excellent for Palace in every respect. He’d come having suffered from back injuries and, while he was here, there were times his back was playing up. “But he got fitter and stronger and, towards the end of the season, was playing outstanding football. Really looking like the player I knew he could be. I was not surprised when Chelsea rejected our efforts to either get him back on loan or buy him.

“He has been so unlucky with injuries. It has taken him this long to get back to playing the football he was for us three years ago.”

Hodgson confirmed that talisman Wilfried Zaha is back in training after three weeks out with a hamstring injury, and could even be back in action next week.