Qwiss I was a competitive ski racer, I raced internationally for a decade. Did my knee when I was a teenager and was never the same, but you get on with it, take a painkiller, condition as best you can, etc. The idea you're going to participate in any sport at a high level and stay clear of pain is fanciful. You've got to play to win, I'm not convinced by this idea that you can extend your career by not playing. In reality, you're just spreading a short career over more years, and the real risk is that you miss the moments you could've made if you'd been on the pitch.

Play. If you regret playing, you're in the wrong line of work. That's how I see it anyway.

    Lulz. He's got a fair bit of catching up to do though.

    8 days later

    Fotmob has Saka as the best player in the PL so far this season.

    daredevil
    jesus. it's because he's so good and important why people are shitting bricks every time he's hobbling around out there.

      IBL Cos we'd like him to last the whole season and not play in dead rubber or wrapped up games.

      Which is completely fair, especially when you see him hobbling around the last twenty minutes of games. But for all of our worrying about him, and his hobbling, he's usually available to start for us. I do think we maybe worry about this stuff a little too much, especially given his track record. I think we have to trust Arteta's judgement with him a little more, after all he will have far more information than we ever will.

      And it is true that for all the talk of how he's been relatively quiet this season, his "relatively quiet" is still winning us matches on the regular.

      Completely agree that he should be kept away from dead rubber type situations mind.

      • IBL replied to this.

          Anyone think Saka fakes these limps at the end of games to make the next team we face not sure if he plays or not?

          Sorry, I've just remembered how many soft tissue injuries we've ended up with with Arteta in charge. Ignore what I said about trusting him! 🤣

          It’s not the hobbling around only. He (and some others) were also completely ineffective at the end of last season and it’s hard not to think that if was related to being overplayed

            FEBravo yeah, also fair. I do think though, certainly this season - as alluded to - he's pacing himself better this season. We've not often seen him flat out. So maybe part of his growth is him learning how to get through the season and peaking at the right time. We shall see - in about seven months...

              RocktheCasbah I do think we maybe worry about this stuff a little too much, especially given his track record. I think we have to trust Arteta's judgement with him a little more, after all he will have far more information than we ever will.

              I get that but worry that we're sometimes riding our luck and with the way he plays and draws foul it just takes one Dan Smith, Shawcross or Taylor and he's out for the season. Just feels risky leaving him on for the full 90 if we're comfortably ahead.

                  IBL Just feels risky leaving him on for the full 90 if we're comfortably ahead.

                  Oh, 100%.

                    IBL
                    " Dan Smith, Shawcross or Taylor and he's out for the season."

                    that's definitely not what I'm worried about with Saka because those kind of things can happen to anyone at anytime in the game. the only way to prevent those assaults is to not play the game.