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Arsenal legend Bob Wilson has admitted to fearing for the longevity of a key winger.

The Gunners have been hugely impressed by the impact of youngster Bukayo Saka on the team this season.

Saka is now a mainstay for club and country, but Wilson believes the harsh treatment he receives from defenders may be jeopardizing his long-term health.

"What drives me demented is we have one of the best young players and, if we aren't careful, football will lose him by the time he is 24 or 25 because Bukayo Saka will have been kicked out of the game," Wilson told The Telegraph.

"Referees don't seem to see or understand it. There are always a minimum of two players within five yards of Saka and often a third. If they can't stop him, they kick him. People say, 'What do you mean? That's too dramatic' I say there has not been a more kicked player in the Premier League than Bukayo Saka.

"If he is facing in an attacking position, and he is taking them on, that is the time I worry. I really worry for Bukayo. I see Saka up with the greats if he is not kicked out of the game. He is clever, dangerous, and knows when to release it. I love him on one side and [Gabriel] Martinelli, with his sheer pace, on the other."

This article first appeared on Tribal Football and was syndicated with permission.

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