Freddie Ljungberg says Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s ‘most important’ player after expressing his worry at his recent injury.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. But there is now every chance that Bukayo Saka is a doubt for Arsenal’s crucial showdown against Manchester City on Sunday.
Given the issues the 22-year-old had leading up to Arsenal’s win over Bournemouth, and then going off in the second half of that match, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he could now be out of action.
When Freddie Ljungberg was at Arsenal, he coached the then-teenager for a period of time and he shared that he has previously wanted the Hale-End star to ‘rest’, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (02/10/23 at 10:35 pm).
Well, it’s probably too late now because, not only might he miss the Man City clash, but also future games, which would be a body blow to the team.
The issue Mikel Arteta will have is that he has hardly been without Bukayo Saka in the Premier League because he has played 80+ consecutive games, but now he might just find out what it will be like.
Bukayo Saka injury
“Looking at this makes Arsenal fans really worried,” said Ljungberg. “He is touching the back of his hamstring.
“I have been like ‘rest him a little bit’. I thought he has played him too much. He is still young and they say ‘they can run as much as they can when they are young’. Rest him!
“He is the most important player. Give him a break sometimes. A bit worried for Arsenal at the weekend in how they are going to play him.”
Who starts if Saka is injured?
There are possible options for Arteta, including Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard.
The possible leading contenders will be Nelson and Jesus.
The former Manchester City man has played out wide before, including his time under Pep Guardiola. If that happens here, then it will mean Eddie Nketiah playing up front.
Or Arteta just goes for the like-for-like replacement of starting Nelson.
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