Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has been nursing an injury of late, according to one report, with Mikel Arteta facing a big decision on his fitness
(Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka could be set for a spell out of the team, with an injury still plaguing him from last season.
The England international is the only player to have featured in every single match of the last two Premier League seasons. Saka recently turned 22 and has played almost 200 senior fixtures for Arsenal.
But the forward has been nursing a problem for a while now – and manager Mikel Arteta now faces a decision as to whether he persists with his superstar with such a hectic schedule coming up.
Mikel Arteta has made Bukayo Saka a permanent fixture in his side at a very young age (Image credit: Getty Images)
The Mail has claimed that Saka's omission from the starting lineup against Scotland this week was not just a result of rotation, with the winger struggling with an Achilles issue.
The Gunners have Everton away coming up at the weekend before their return to the Champions League next Wednesday at home to PSV. Tottenham follow in the North London Derby, then a tricky third-round League Cup fixture against Brentford. They also face Manchester City and Chelsea in October.
Saka could well be rested for a few of the more winnable fixtures, especially in the League Cup. With Arsenal lacking a like-for-like backup for Saka, however, Arteta will have a decision to make over whether he persists with his first-choice right-winger for the next few weeks or rotates with someone like Reiss Nelson, who can also play in that position.
Reiss Nelson is the most likely candidate to replace Bukayo Saka (Image credit: Getty Images)
Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and Fabio Vieira could all play on the right wing, too.
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Saka is valued to be worth €120 million by Transfermarkt.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
