Arsenal are optimistic Bukayo Saka has avoided a significant injury after Mikel Arteta took the winger off as a precaution against Newcastle United on Saturday, per the Daily Mail.
The England international broke the deadlock at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners beat the Toon 2-0. But Saka only remained on the field for eight-minutes after he found the net.
Saka noted some discomfort in his thigh soon after rounding off a move with Emile Smith Rowe and Nuno Tavares. Striking his second goal of the term and third in all competitions.
Arsenal continued to assess Saka’s potential injury on Monday in the hope he can feature at Manchester United in midweek. Arteta takes the Gunners to Old Trafford on Thursday with the chance to move the north Londoners into the top-four positions of the standings.
The Emirates natives are hopeful Saka avoided any significant damage to his thigh against Newcastle at the weekend, with Arteta replacing the 21-year-old as a precaution.
Saka has started Arsenal’s last 12 Premier League fixtures, having featured in the season-opening defeat at Brentford from the bench.
Saka avoiding serious injury will delight Arsenal boss Arteta
Arsenal ace Saka avoiding a serious thigh injury will delight Arteta, who will be loath to be without the winger.
Only Smith Rowe and Albert Sambi Lokonga have also played in all 13 of the Gunners’ top-flight fixtures this term.
Smith Rowe (1,073) and Benjamin White (990) are additionally the only Arsenal stars to play more minutes than Saka (958).
Arteta will be loath to now not have Saka’s instrumental presence available to Arsenal for a sustained period through injury.
So, the Spaniard may have to take extra caution over his much-lauded player for him to feature against Manchester United. Especially starting at Old Trafford on Thursday.
“Bukayo is doing really well and is always asking to train more and improve in areas that he can do better,” Arteta said, via the Arsenal website, in January.
“That was certainly one. At producing the final bit in the box to score or assist, and he’s doing that much more often.
“He’s able to do that with the work he has put in and the intelligence he’s shown on the pitch, and with the capacity he has to understand the game from different positions.
“He becomes a really complete player.”
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