Arsenal have been dealt with a huge blow ahead of their crucial run of fixtures as their main man Bukayo Saka limped-off the pitch during his side’s 3-0 FA Cup third-round win over Oxford United. The Gunners are next up against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur away, and then welcome Manchester United at the Emirates in the Premier League. Not doubt Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will need his star-boy Bukayo Saka intact for these games, but that plans could be derailed.
The Gunners were helped to a comfortable win with a brace from Eddie Nketiah and a sole strike from Mohamed Elneny. However, their lacking squad depth once again put them in a fix as many of their league regulars, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney had to feature from the start against the League One side. And to pile up the misery, it had to be their best player of the season so far, Bukayo Saka to come-off injured.
Arteta provides positive update on Bukayo Saka injury
The electric winger has been in brilliant form not only this season, but since the start of the 21/22 season as well. Saka is Arsenal’s joint top goalscorer this season with 7 goals, as well as highest assist provider with 7 assists in 24 games in all competitions. The winger has almost been denied a proper rest this season, having started 17 of Arsenal’s 17 league fixtures, and featured in all of their Europa League games and now the FA Cup as well.
A mid-season World Cup in Qatar also saw the 21-year-old start England’s 2 of 4 games, accumulating 149 minutes and scoring an impressive 3 goals. Back in London after the Three Lions’ quarterfinals exit, Saka has started all four of his team’s outings, with three of those coming in the league and the latest to be the FA Cup’s. However, this one almost cost the Gunners, as in the game which was immensely dominated by coarse physicality, Saka sustained an ankle injury.
Without a second’s thought, Saka was not risked any further by Arteta and was subbed for Emile Smith Rowe, who made a return from his long lay-off on the sidelines due to a surgery on his groin injury. Saka’s injury sent the Arsenal fans into a panic mode, as the winger is key to their title challenge this season as they sit atop of the league, and next face Tottenham and Manchester United. However, Arteta had some positive update on his number-7, as he told ITV after the game:
“Saka is fine. It’s always tough to win these matches. It was a physical game in many moments but we stood by that. We changed things in the second half, got more control of the game and found the openings to win.”
Arsenal are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup with the win over Oxford, where they now face Manchester City. The Gunners are already in a tussle with the reigning Premier League champions for the title this season, as a five-point gap separate the two at first and second. The two sides are also yet to meet in the league, with a total of three clashes between the two now on cars.