Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have confirmed his plan to manage Bukayo Saka’s minutes carefully this season amid reports of an ongoing Achilles problem for the winger

Arsenal began their UEFA Champions League campaign in style by thrashing PSV Eindhoven 4-0 and, perhaps most importantly, Bukayo Saka was afforded some rest.

The winger, who registered a goal and assist on his debut in the competition, was substituted after 69 minutes in a sight that would have been greatly welcomed by many Gunners supporters after it was reported last week that he continues to struggle with an Achilles problem.

However, Mikel Arteta moved to quickly play down any fears over Saka’s fitness. Stating that nagging injuries are part and parcel of football at the highest level: “He’s fine. He trained normally today so there’s nothing to report there,” the Spaniard said. “Every player has always pains or issues that’s normal in elite sport but it’s nothing to worry about.”

Having said that, one obvious solution to eliminating any concerns some fans have with regard to the 22-year-old is by managing his minutes carefully. Something, that might prove a difficult task for the Arsenal manager after starting the England international in all but one Premier League game last season and only affording the winger a full rest once throughout the entire campaign.

Then there’s the argument of no natural replacement for Saka. Arteta prefers his wingers to play on the side that allows them to cut in onto their stronger foot but Nicolas Pepe and Marquinhos both departed during the summer transfer window, so the situation, at least on paper, hasn’t changed much from last season.

But a few decisions made during Arsenal’s win over PSV on Wednesday night may have ‘confirmed’ who is the backup option for Saka on the right-hand side of a three-man attack thus quietly revealing how Arteta plans to manage the winger’s minutes as the campaign progresses.

As Saka went off to a standing ovation from the Emirates faithful, his replacement was Fabio Vieira. Now with last summer’s £34million arrival from Porto being left-footed it does mean he’s the most natural replacement for the Gunners’ No.7, and it’s a role he is familiar with having started the Emirates Cup clash against AS Monaco out wide.

It’s no secret that the 23-year-old’s preference is to play centrally as he’s caught the eye in the ‘left eight’ position, and football.london have argued that Arsenal have looked at their best offensively this season when he has been on the pitch. But he certainly has the s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁set to operate as a right-winger if required.

Granted, as more of a creator than a finisher who prefers to drift inside rather than engage in one-vs-one duels with the full-back, Vieira won’t offer exactly what Saka does – very few players can. But he does have an eye for a pass and with a wand of a left-foot can pick out a teammate if afforded space.

Furthermore, with both Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe – who should be able to operate on the right – being used from the opposite flank upon being introduced to proceedings against PSV, perhaps that was further evidence as to where Arteta views them in relation to covering for Saka.