Arsenal’s rising star, winger Bukayo Saka, is set to miss his team’s Carabao Cup clash against Brentford this Wednesday, and there are concerns that he might also be sidelined for their league match against Bournemouth on Saturday. Saka, a 22-year-old England international, sustained a foot injury during the recent 2-2 draw against Tottenham, prompting his substitution by Emile Smith Rowe just before the final whistle.
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed his concerns about Saka’s injury, stating, “He was limping quite badly after the match. We had to get him off the field, which is never a good sign.” When asked about the possibility of Saka missing the Bournemouth game, Arteta replied, “It’s a possibility, yes.”
Saka has been a standout performer for Arsenal this season, contributing four goals and three assists in seven appearances across the Premier League and Champions League. Notably, if he misses the match against Bournemouth, it will bring an end to his impressive club-record streak of 86 consecutive Premier League appearances.
In addition to Saka’s injury, Arsenal has been grappling with a series of other setbacks. Defender Jurrien Timber is facing a long-term knee injury, while key players like Thomas Partey, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Martinelli are also currently sidelined due to injuries.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for the Gunners as midfielder Declan Rice, who came off at half-time in the Tottenham match due to a back injury, is not believed to have suffered a “too serious” injury, according to Arteta.
Arteta acknowledged the challenges posed by injuries, especially given the busy schedules some of his players have endured, saying, “It’s true that they play with the national teams and they’re coming from a season where they had a World Cup and some players played 60-odd games.” He added, “We’ve been unlucky. Jurrien, for example, was due to other reasons, while Bukayo was because someone stepped on him.”
Injuries are an unfortunate part of football, and Arsenal is currently grappling with a depleted squad. The uncertainty surrounding Bukayo Saka’s availability for upcoming matches raises concerns for Arsenal fans, but they will be hoping for a swift recovery for their star winger.
