Mikel Arteta has warned national team bosses not to overwork his Arsenal stars during the upcoming international break.
The Gunners boss is especially concerned about his players' fitness levels after watching Bukayo Saka - one of his key men - succumb to a muscle injury in the victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
No outfield player has made more appearances for Arsenal this season than Saka and there are concerns over the 19-year-old's workload.
The same is true of Emile Smith Rowe, 20, who has been called up to represent England's Under-21s for the first time later this month.
Arteta said he will be keeping a close eye on his players' workloads over the international break as he provided an update on Smith Rowe's fatigue.
Asked whether the youngster could be rested against Olympiacos in the Europa League last-16 second leg on Thursday night, Arteta told reporters: "It's true that we have some players with some significant loads there.
"But our priority now is to win these next two games and then whatever happens with international duty. If anything, they will have to adapt to what we want.
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"We're not going to do it the opposite way around because we are the ones that have to look after our players here every day.
"But at the end, we're the ones who pay our players so if anybody has to adapt, that's the national teams and not us."
Arteta also provided a promising update on Saka which allayed fears the teenager will be sidelined for many weeks with a hamstring injury.
Discussing Saka, the Spaniard said: "He was doing another test and obviously he felt something muscular.
"But he's been much, much better and they've both been really well. So we'll make the decision this afternoon on what we'll do."
Arsenal have a 3-1 advantage from their first leg with Olympiacos as they prepare to host the Greek club at the Emirates. The Gunners then travel to West Ham on Sunday in their final game before the international break.
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