According to a report by Football London on Thursday, November 5, 2026, was the previous head of high performance at Arsenal The growing number of physical demands put on today's youth football teams has Darren Burgess worried about the origins of Bukayo Saka's most recent injury.

Burgess addressed the England international's ongoing fitness issues, saying that playing football at a high level all the time, combined with past injuries and overuse, can lead to soft-tissue issues. He emphasized the need of physical management in reducing injury risk for young players who frequently compete in demanding competitions.

It is now even more unclear when Saka will be available for Arsenal's Champions League match against Bayern Munich because he suffered his latest injury while on the field. Since breaking into the first team at the age of 25, the 25-year-old has played in over 320 games for the Gunners, which has led some to wonder what effect his heavy club and national duty has had on his body.

Burgess, who was an employee of Arsenal under both Arsène Wenger and Unai Emery, said that the manager and the player typically have a conversation about whether or not the injured player can participate.

The manager and the player make the final decision, Burgess said.

He elaborated by saying that if the performance and medical departments feel a player has a high risk of making a problem worse, they can advise against selecting him. Still, the footballer and manager might reach a consensus that he is healthy enough to play.

When evaluating a player's health and determining their readiness to play again, the former Arsenal official stressed the significance of open lines of communication and trust between the coaching and medical staffs.

Burgess voiced his concern about young players like Saka—who rely on explosive movements, power, and speed—during their discussion of Saka's situation. While elaborating on the benefits of exposing promising young players to heavy workloads and significant playing time early in their careers, he made reference to Raheem Sterling and Cesc Fàbregas.

"The Premier League, where the intensity is through the roof, is a place where I fear the young players of the game will be thrown in and mismanaged," he expressed his concern.

Burgess cautioned that players with explosive playing styles need careful workload management, though he acknowledged not knowing the specifics of Saka's most recent setback.

He went on to say that the injury might not have been caused by the Bayern Munich match per se, but rather that the problem might have been building up to it.