Bukayo Saka’s injury update: Arsenal star in contention to face Manchester City on Sunday:
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is in contention to face Manchester City on Sunday, despite limping off with a muscle injury in the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat at Lens.
The 22-year-old has been a key player for the Gunners this season, recording 10 goal contributions in as many games across all competitions. His fitness is therefore a major concern ahead of the crunch match against City, who are just one point ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said that Saka is “in contention” to play against City, but he has also said that he is waiting to see how he progresses in training.
“He is in contention,” Arteta said. “We’ll see how he progresses from here to Sunday. Obviously he had to leave the pitch [against RC Lens], that’s never good news, but let’s see how he recovers.”
Bukayo Saka was also named in England’s squad on Thursday for the friendly with Australia and Euro 2024 qualifier with Italy. Arteta says he has been in contact with England manager Gareth Southgate about Saka’s situation.
“I have spoken to Gareth on several occasions. I have to do my job and give him the news,” Arteta added.
“He needs to make the best decision for the national team. I’m not going to get involved there.”
If Saka is unable to play against City, Arteta has a number of options to replace him. Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson could all start on the wing, while Fabio Vieira could also be deployed in a more advanced role.
However, Bukayo Saka is a unique talent and his absence would be a major blow to Arsenal. He is one of the most creative and dangerous players in the Premier League, and he is also a tireless worker off the ball.
The impact of Saka’s potential absence on Arsenal’s chances of winning the match:
Bukayo Saka’s potential absence would make it much more difficult for Arsenal to beat City. He is one of the most important players in the team, and he is capable of creating something out of nothing.
If Saka is unable to play, Arteta will need to find a way to replace his creativity and goal threat. Smith Rowe, Martinelli and Nelson are all talented players, but they are not as consistent as Saka.
Arsenal will also need to be more wary of City’s attacks if Saka is not in the side. He is a tireless worker off the ball, and he helps to track back and defend.
Overall, Saka’s potential absence would make it much more difficult for Arsenal to beat City. However, they are still a strong team, and they will believe that they can win the match even without him.
Which players could step in to replace Saka if he is unable to play?
If Saka is unable to play against City, Arteta has a number of options to replace him. Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson could all start on the wing, while Fabio Vieira could also be deployed in a more advanced role.
Smith Rowe is the most natural replacement for Bukayo Saka. He is a left-footed winger who likes to cut inside onto his right foot. He is also a very creative player who is capable of scoring goals and creating chances for his teammates.
Martinelli is another option for Arteta. He is a right-footed winger who is very quick and direct. He is also a good finisher.
Nelson is the least likely of the four players to start against City. He has struggled for form in recent seasons, and he is not as consistent as the other three players.
Vieira is a more attacking option than the other three players. He is a natural number 10, but he can also play on the wing. He is a very creative player who is capable of scoring goals and creating chances for his teammates.
Ultimately, the decision of who to replace Bukayo Saka with will come down to Arteta. He will need to decide which player he thinks will give Arsenal the best chance of winning the match.
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