Arsenal: Mikel Arteta dismisses fears over Bukayo Saka burnout in new fitness update

Mikel Arteta has no fears over Bukayo Saka suffering with burnout and has backed the Arsenal winger to “fly” during the title run-in.

Saka is currently nursing a muscle issue and missed the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Luton on Wednesday night.

Arsenal are due to train on Friday afternoon before their trip to Brighton on Saturday and a decision will be made after that as to whether or not the England winger will feature at the Amex Stadium.

Saka has played more minutes than any of Arsenal’s other attackers so far this season, but Arteta is not worried.

“I am super positive. I think he is going to fly and be so decisive,” said the Gunners boss, when asked if he fears Saka potentially burning out.

“I think [my confidence is] because he is so strong, how much he wants it when you talk to him and how excited he is about what is coming.

“He wants to be there and he is getting better and better. It is normal, you have little niggles, you have kicks.

“He has gone through a lot of that in the last two or three years, and look at the way he is performing.”

Other than Saka, the Gunners have no injury doubts for the trip to Brighton.

Jurrien Timber, who injured his knee back in August, is still working back to full fitness but he hopes to play before the end of the season.

Arsenal head to Brighton knowing that a win will take them back top of the Premier League, although that could only be for 24 hours as Liverpool travel to Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Gunners have a busy month ahead and seven more top-flight games to go, with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Arteta has admitted that he will have to rotate to navigate the busy period and he made five changes for Wednesday’s win over Luton.