LONDON (Reuters) – Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka’s injury is not serious and they are hopeful he will be available for their Premier League trip to Bournemouth on Saturday after picking up a problem on England duty, manager Mikel Arteta has said.
The 23-year-old was forced off during England’s shock 2-1 loss to Greece in the Nations League at Wembley last week with a slight hamstring issue. Saka returned to Arsenal for further assessment, missing England’s 3-1 win away to Finland.
Saka has scored two goals and provided seven assists in seven Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season.
“(Saka) is not a serious injury,” Arteta told reporters on Friday. “He is evolving really well. He has done a few things in the last two days. He wasn’t fit enough to play with the national team in the second game, but we are hopeful.
“We have a training session this afternoon. He did some bits yesterday, let’s see if he can make it on time.”
Another injury concern is Kai Havertz after the forward missed Germany’s Nations League matches against Bosnia and the Netherlands due to a knee problem. Brazilian left winger Gabriel Martinelli is also doubtful for the Bournemouth match.
Havertz, 25, has been enjoying a fine campaign, netting four times in seven Premier League games.
“He had a few issues, and we have been dealing with that. He has been absolutely brilliant. He has very good communication with the national team and the manager,” Arteta said.
“We have modified everything we could do here and if he trains well today, he has a good chance to be fit and available.
“Gabi landed yesterday afternoon here, so we had a very short time to be with him,” added the Arsenal coach.
“Yesterday he went outside to do a little bit and see how he is feeling, and today will be another step. (We will see) if we want to take the risk if he is fit because I know what the player is going to say.”
Captain Martin Odegaard will miss Saturday’s game as he continues to recover from an ankle injury, but Arteta said next week will be crucial to see how close the Norway midfielder is.
Last season’s runners-up Arsenal are third in the standings with 17 points from seven matches and trail leaders Liverpool by a point. Bournemouth are 13th on eight points.
ENGLAND MANAGER
Arteta was also asked about the appointment of German Thomas Tuchel as England manager.
Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Tuchel is the first German to manage England and only the third foreigner after the late Sven-Goran Eriksson of Sweden and Italian Fabio Capello.
Arteta described Tuchel as one of the best coaches in the world.
“I understand it can feel sad for some people not to have an English manager there and the history tells you as well how important this could be but I think I would take a lot of pride that a lot of managers … would do anything to become the England manager,” Arteta added.
“I can say personally that you feel so related to where you are even though you are not from here and I think that is a huge thing. I think very few countries can say that.”
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
