Mikel Arteta believes the referees have a duty to deal with fouls on Bukayo Saka, but the winger’s teammates can also help him out.

In recent Arsenal matches, a frustrating theme has been the way referees fail to call fouls on Bukayo Saka.

After Robert Jones’ infamous refereeing performance where he booked Saka for being tripped, there was another trip waved away in the PSV match, and Saka was then kicked off the pitch against Nottingham Forest.

Returning to the starting lineup against Chelsea, Saka once again failed to get free kicks for clear fouls by Marc Cucurella. The winger eventually lashed out and picked up a yellow for a foul of his own.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s final club game before the international break, Arteta discussed the issue of Saka’s treatment by officials.

“The referees have the duties to deal with that,” Arteta said.

“The better the players become, the bigger target they become because people try and find ways to stop him. That is why football has very clear rules, what you can do and what you cannot do, and that is the referees’ job.”

Arteta suggested it’s not entirely on the referees, however. The manager also believes Saka’s teammates can help him out with the way they give the winger the ball.

“We can do (more),” Arteta said. “Sometimes the type of ball we give him and when we give him certain balls (could be better).

“You can see at a certain point it becomes about the timing, the decision-making, in the space you have generated before that action, and the understanding and knowledge of what is going to happen before it happens.”

There’s certainly some truth to that. Players are most likely to dive into challenges when it looks like the ball is there to be won, so it helps to play passes that are easier for Saka to control.

But the rest is up to the officials. When the Arsenal youngster is repeatedly fouled without punishment, opponents are only encouraged to keep doing the same thing.