Mikel Arteta warned that Arsenal would have to “be careful” about overworking Bukayo Saka after the returning star was taken off as a precaution after just 45 minutes of Saturday’s victory over Fulham.

Saka had spent the opening half of a comfortable 3–0 win tormenting whichever white shirt had the misfortune of lining up opposite him. Raúl Jiménez was floored by the Gunners vice-captain as he set up Viktor Gyökeres’s opening goal before Saka nabbed one of his own with a crisp strike in the 40th minute. Gyökeres wrapped up the contest on the cusp of the interval with a third goal which cemented Arteta’s decision to remove his No. 7.

“We had to,” the Arsenal boss admitted. “He played 30-odd minutes in Madrid, now he’s played 45 minutes.…