On May 2 2021, 878 days ago, Arsenal won 2-0 away at Newcastle in a top-flight clash. Goals from Mohamed Elneny and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave the visitors a routine victory in the north east.
One notable absentee from the Arsenal team that day was Saka, who was an unused substitute. It had been a bit of a breakthrough year for the teenager, who would go on to be part of the England squad that made it to the final of Euro 2020 that summer - we all know how that ended.
But that game at St James' Park is notable in the fact it was the last time Saka did not play a Premier League match. Almost two-and-a-half years have gone by and he has featured in all 86 of the Gunners' league games since then.
He has broken Paul Merson's all-time Arsenal record of most consecutive games in the Premier League. What makes it even more impressive is that Saka has started 82 of those matches, coming on as a sub on just four occasions.
He has been a constant figure for Arteta since nailing down the right-wing spot as his own. Saka has scored 28 league goals since he last missed a game and registered 21 assists.
Those statistics are only getting better. He managed a career-high 25 goal contributions last season and already has five in six matches this term.But he limped off late on in Sunday's north London derby draw against Tottenham. It takes a lot for Saka to go off so that will be a worry for Arteta, who confirmed he could miss the weekend's trip to the Vitality Stadium.
Arteta said: "He was limping quite badly after the match. We had to get him off the field, which is never a good sign as well.
"He hasn’t been able to participate in the session. It’s a possibility, yes [that he could miss the Bournemouth game]."
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