Arsenal receive positive Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard injury update ahead of Bournemouth clash
Arsenal receive positive Bukayo Saka injury update ahead of Bournemouth clash
Mikel Arteta has provided the latest Arsenal injury updates, including on Bukayo Saka, ahead of the Premier League clash with Bournemouth
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is expected to be fit to play against Bournemouth this Saturday, despite suffering an injury while on international duty with England. The 23-year-old winger was forced off the pitch during England’s 2-1 defeat to Greece, raising concerns over his availability for the weekend’s Premier League clash.
Saka exited the game in the 51st minute, clutching his right hamstring as he was replaced by Chelsea’s Noni Madueke. His departure, accompanied by two medical staff members, sparked fears that the injury could keep him sidelined for a while. Further concerns grew when he was seen hobbling out of Wembley after the match, leading to his withdrawal from the England squad for the remainder of the international break.
However, those concerns have been eased. Interim England manager Lee Carsley initially confirmed Saka had felt an issue in his leg during the match, saying post-game, “He’s being assessed. You can see in the build-up to the first goal that he felt something in his leg.”
A few days later, Carsley revealed that Saka’s injury was not serious and that his absence from the squad was precautionary. “Bukayo would have been close, but it would have been unfair to take a risk with him,” Carsley said. “He’s a positive person, and I expect him to be fine.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has now echoed that optimism ahead of the Bournemouth fixture. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta said, “[Saka’s injury] is not serious. He is evolving really well. He has done a few things in the last two days. He wasn’t fit enough to play in the second game for England, but we are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon, and he did some bits yesterday. Let’s see if he can make it on time.”
Saka’s fitness will be a huge relief for Arsenal, as the winger has been pivotal to the team’s strong start to the season. He has started every game across all competitions and has contributed seven assists in the Premier League so far, highlighting his importance to Arteta’s side.
