Bukayo Saka an injury concern over Bournemouth clash

• Arsenal is currently missing several first-team players due to injury concerns
• The Gunners added Declan Rice to the injury list during a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur
• Coveted winger Bukayo Saka has now added to the list of injuries and could miss the weekend’s trip to Bournemouth

Injury troubles have deepened for Arsenal as manager Mikel Arteta revealed that Bukayo Saka could miss the upcoming weekend trip to Bournemouth due to a foot problem. Saka, who scored from the penalty spot and had a shot deflected in during the North London derby against Tottenham, limped off late in the game and will definitely be absent for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third-round clash at Brentford. His club-record streak of 86 consecutive Premier League appearances is also under threat.

The injury concerns at Arsenal have been mounting. Declan Rice was substituted at half-time against Spurs due to a back issue, while forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard missed the game due to injuries. In addition, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey are also sidelined. With none of these players expected to be available for the upcoming fixtures against Bournemouth and Brentford, Arsenal’s squad depth is being put to the test.

Bukayo Saka has added to the list of Arsenal injury concerns ahead of the weekend’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth. | PHOTO: Goal |

READ: Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka signs new long-term contract

Arteta expressed his concerns about Saka’s injury, stating, “He was limping quite badly after the match, and we had to get him off the field, which is never a good sign. He hasn’t been able to participate in the session.” When asked if Saka could miss the Bournemouth game, Arteta admitted, “It’s a possibility, yes.”

The Arsenal manager also highlighted the heavy workload that some of his players have faced, including international commitments, as a contributing factor to the spate of injuries. “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,” Arteta explained.

Despite trying to manage the players’ workload, Arteta acknowledged that injuries are an unavoidable part of football. He emphasized that Arsenal currently does not have a squad of 24 players and, therefore, extensive rotations are not feasible.

To address the upcoming challenges, Arteta suggested that he may rotate the squad for the Carabao Cup clash with Brentford, providing an opportunity for fringe players and young talent to step up and showcase their abilities. “There are a lot of players who need minutes,” he said. “We have lots of players who haven’t had minutes and they are going to need exposure, that’s for sure.”

With a growing injury list and a busy schedule ahead, Arsenal’s depth and the ability of their lesser-used players to rise to the occasion will be put to the test in the coming matches. Arteta faces the challenge of managing his squad effectively to navigate this challenging period.