Pundit issues 'perfect' Bukayo Saka injury claim after Mikel Arteta's 'really worried' admission
Arsenal may have lost one of their most important players for the festive fixtures, but one pundit sees a silver lining.
Rio Ferdinand has found a silver lining in Bukayo Saka’s potential injury setback. Saka limped off during Arsenal’s 5-1 away win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, sparking huge concern as the Gunners look to force their way back into the title race.
Saka is, of course, one of Arsenal’s most dangerous and important players, and while the severity of his injury is unclear, the congestion of fixtures over Christmas means the games against Ipswich Town, Brentford and Brighton - which all come between now and December 4 - are immediately at risk as far as the winger’s participation is concerned.
But there is a silver lining, according to pundit Ferdinand, who believes this is the best time for Saka to pick up an injury. He said on Sky Sports: “If there was a perfect time to get injured, it would be now. You look at the games that they’ve got coming up, no Champions League, [it] gives [Saka] a bit of time to rest. We talk about players playing loads of games, I think he hasn’t had a period where he’s been out for any length of time. I think if he’s out for a bit of time now, it’ll put them in good stead when it kicks in around January, February time.”
Mikel Arteta was asked about the Saka injury after the win over Palace. He said: “He felt something in his hamstring, he couldn’t continue, and he’ll have to be assessed. So, we’re really worried about that one.“ Asked how bad he thinks it is, he added: “It’s very difficult to [say] now – they have tested him inside but very difficult to say how bad it is.”
Saka has previously had a similar injury in the same area, but there is no certainty that it is the same injury. “I’m not sure if it’s exactly the same one, or the same leg,” Arteta said. “It’s the third minor injury; I don’t know how big this one is going to be but he already had two of them.”