Bukayo Saka only took one week of complete rest over the summer, and he’s now explained why he made that decision.
Bukayo Saka had a busy 2025/26 campaign, and he went into the summer carrying an injury issue, which ultimately appeared to affect his minutes at the World Cup.
As a result, there had been some suggestions the winger might miss the start of the new season, but Saka was in the starting lineup and on the scoresheet against Coventry City on Friday night.
Speaking to the media after the game, Saka revealed that he didn’t take much time off over the summer, explaining that he didn’t actually want too much of a break.
“The World Cup [start] was a couple of months ago, but I’ve put in a lot of work since then and I’m feeling good,” Saka said.
“It was more about balancing my time off and not having too much of a break. I took seven days off and then started to train again, just to try and come back in good shape so I’m on top of my body.
“I felt really hungry after the World Cup, after the season ended. I was looking forward for the season to start again.
“Like I said, I was training a lot so I could be ready for the start and ready to help the team in the way I know I can.”
When Saka is fully fit and firing, Arsenal are a much better team than when he’s out of action or not at 100%.
The winger is a goal threat, a creative threat, he works hard out of possession, he’s a man for the big occasion, and he’s someone you can find under pressure and he’ll usually make something happen.
Whether Saka and Arsenal’s decisions on his time off and his fitness work bear dividends this season remains to be seen, and there will always be doubters suggesting the club give him more of a break.
But it’s definitely difficult to leave the 24-year-old on the sidelines, and he clearly just wants to be back out there on the pitch.
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