Aoba Tanaka 
Arsenal has officially lodged a complaint with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), expressing their concern over the physical treatment endured by star winger Bukayo Saka. The Gunners are advocating for increased protection for Saka, citing their dissatisfaction with the level of aggression directed towards the young talent during the current season.
According to Mail Sport, Mikel Arteta’s side has engaged with the refereeing body to highlight their grievances and call for more robust measures to safeguard Saka during matches. Arsenal contends that Saka has been subjected to undue harshness from defenders and desires a proactive approach from referees in penalizing fouls against him.
Specifically, Arsenal is urging for players to be booked for the “first strong foul” on Saka, expressing frustration with referees waiting for a second incident before brandishing yellow cards. Saka ranked as the third most-fouled player in the Premier League in 2023, facing 87 fouls, highlighting the challenges he encounters due to his dynamic playing style and ability to take on defenders.
Teams frequently double up on Saka, recognizing his threat, and the Gunners have observed a pattern where the young English international is targeted for rough treatment. Despite Arsenal’s reliance on Saka for goals and assists, his recent form has dipped, with only one goal in his last six matches.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, has been advocating for Saka’s protection for some time. In November 2022, Arteta commented, “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 [to protect players].”
The urgency of Arsenal’s complaint is heightened by Saka’s ongoing Achilles injury, and the club is keen to avoid losing the influential winger during a crucial phase of the season. Recent setbacks in the form of defeats to Fulham, West Ham, and Aston Villa have impacted Arsenal’s title aspirations, underscoring the significance of addressing Saka’s protection on the field.
