Arteta dealing with lingering Saka concern after similar Arsenal issue

14 September 2023 , 11:42

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Mikel Arteta and Bukayo Saka (Image: PA)

Mikel Arteta will have key man Bukayo Saka available for the trip to Everton on Sunday but only amid an ongoing concern over the forward's fitness.

Saka, 22, was one of the shining lights of the 2022/23 Premier League season, appearing in all 38 of Arsenal's games as the Gunners went excruciatingly close to the title. His impressive form duly saw him pick up the PFA Young Player of the Season award, whilst this month he was named the 2023 England Men's Player of the Year.

His involvement with the national side however, will no doubt prompt conflicting thoughts from his club manager. Now a regular starter under Gareth Southgate, the manner in which he was targeted by Ukraine defenders in Poland last Saturday would have had Arteta wincing.

The player was duly left on the bench for the friendly in Scotland on Tuesday, appearing late on in the second half. But according to the , the omission wasn't just due to Southgate rotating his squad and managing Saka's workload.

Saka is also reportedly being troubled by an ongoing achilles injury, an issue which plagued him in the 2022/23 season. That's despite him making 48 appearances for the North London club in all competitions.

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And Arteta will be all too aware of the dangers of a player persisting through an injury issue. Last season, Emilie Smith Rowe was absent until March after undergoing surgery for a long-term groin problem.

It was back in December 2021 when the England international left the field early in a 3-2 away defeat at Manchester United, citing a tight groin. He duly returned a few weeks later, only for the discomfort to arise again the following summer.

Emile Smith Rowe did not play until March last season following groin surgery (Getty Images)

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The 23-year-old finally took the decision to go under the knife, and found himself ruled out for most of the first eight months of the campaign. He finally made his season bow in March, eventually featuring in 12 Premier League matches, although the majority of those came from the bench.

Whilst there are no immediate fears over a similar lay-off, losing Saka could potentially derail Arsenal's season, given how pivotal he's become to the Gunners. And the current concerns come ahead of the side returning to the Champions League next week when they host PSV Eindhoven next Wednesday.

Arteta has already been dealt one hammer blow this season. New signing Jurrien Timber, who arrived from Ajax for £38.3 million in the summer, has been ruled out for several months after picking up a knee injury on the opening day of the season against Nottingham Forest.

Fraser Watson