Agbonlahor: Arsenal plan may ruin Bukayo Saka and four star teammates after reveal
Arsenal need to rotate Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard out of their starting XI for their next Premier League game.
That is the view of ex-Aston Villa and England attacker Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Arsenal dropped points in the league for just the second time this season.
The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton on Sunday (23 October) with eight of the starting XI – including Saka, Martinelli, Jesus and Xhaka – named in the line-up for all 11 of their Premier League games this season.
As quoted by Sky Sports on Friday (21 October), Mikel Arteta claimed it would be “crazy” to change his side three times a week and his players have to get used to playing regularly.
“I heard him say that but then looked at Arsenal against Southampton and a lot of the players looked tired,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“Saka, Martinelli, Jesus, Xhaka and Odegaard were not themselves. The whole team was not playing at the level and speed they are used to.
“That happens. I remember playing under Martin O’Neill and by February we had burnout. We were battling for top four and finished sixth because we’d burnt out and our legs were tired. That happens even when you are young, playing two games a week is difficult.
“I think he’s got to start rotating, if that’s in the next game they play in the Premier League. Give [Fabio] Vieira a start, give [Eddie] Nketiah a start or Marquinhos a start.
“They need to start rotating otherwise the players will start to suffer from burnout.
“Arsenal should be beating Southampton and they lacked energy, especially in the second half. They looked like they had nothing left in the locker, they looked tired.”
In other news, Tottenham are close to agreeing a naming rights deal worth £21million-a-year more than Arsenal.