Arsenal’s recent victory over Manchester City brought a sense of satisfaction, but it was overshadowed by Bukayo Saka’s absence. Mikel Arteta’s tactical approach leaned towards caution due to the absence of their star winger, and City faced their own challenges with injuries and suspensions. The match became a tightly contested affair, with Gabriel Jesus filling in for Saka on Arsenal’s right flank. While Jesus brought infectious energy, his decision-making occasionally faltered in the final third.
Nonetheless, the Gunners managed to break their Premier League losing streak against Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens, thanks to a deflected Gabriel Martinelli strike. Arsenal supporters eagerly await Saka’s return to action. Although he may not have hit peak form in the 2023/24 season, the winger has already contributed to ten goals in as many games, establishing himself as a consistent performer.
The question on every Arsenal fan’s mind is when Bukayo Saka will return from his injury. Saka has been sidelined since Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Lens, nursing a hamstring injury. After being ruled out of the City game, he also withdrew from the England squad for their October fixtures. Fortunately, the injury doesn’t appear to be severe, but Mikel Arteta will tread cautiously as Saka has faced multiple knocks this season. He was forced off against Tottenham and Bournemouth and later in the Lens match.
Updates on Saka’s fitness have been scarce during the break, leaving uncertainty about his availability for Arsenal’s upcoming match against Chelsea. Given his history of injuries, Arteta is likely to remain tight-lipped about Saka’s status in the coming week. The Gunners are also gearing up for a crucial Champions League clash with Sevilla the following Tuesday, adding pressure to manage Saka’s return strategically.
