Bukayo Saka had to be subbed off due to injury in the first half of Arsenal’s Champions League game at Lens – just five days before their crucial clash with Manchester City.
Saka, 22, had to be withdrawn in the 34th minute in place of Fabio Vieira and limped off the pitch. The England international hasn’t been fully fit in recent weeks, despite his spectacular form.
Manager Mikel Arteta has elected to keep playing him, though, but now his decision has backfired. Saka may now miss Sunday’s Premier League matchup, with Arsenal able to jump ahead of champions City – and North London rivals Tottenham – if they win at the Emirates.
Having also been forced off with a knock during Saturday’s 4-0 victory away to Bournemouth, as well as coming off injured in the North London Derby six days earlier, Arteta insisted ahead of the trip to France that Saka was good to go. “He’s fine, he’s much better,” the Gunners boss explained.
“Obviously he took a big knock but he’s recovered well and he trained today. It’s great if he’s available and we will make that call [before the game].”
Arteta did and chose to start Saka, setting up Gabriel Jesus to make it 1-0 in the 14th minute with an excellent finish. Lens soon responded, though, as Adrien Thomasson equalised 11 minutes later. Saka has been instrumental in Arsenal’s impressive start to the season, with Arteta continually heaping praise on him.
“He sets himself new targets and new demands year by year,” the Spaniard explained. “He seems to complete those because he is extremely hungry and willing to learn and improve. He wants to be the player that decides games every three days. He’s a very focused boy and does everything right – the way he prepares himself, the way he trains, the way he lives his life.”
Saka committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new four-year deal in May, having just missed out on the title to City after leading the pack for much of the campaign. The 22-year-old then enjoyed a strong summer with England, scoring his first international hat-trick, and took his form into the new club season.