Arsenal star Bukayo Saka reportedly has a ‘nagging injury’.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has reportedly been playing through a ‘nagging’ injury since last season, it has been claimed. The winger was a substitute for England’s 3-1 win over Scotland on Tuesday and the reason why his minutes were managed has emerged.
Many might have expected Saka to start the clash given Gareth Southgate picked a relatively strong team. The 21-year-old has solidified his place as England’s first-choice right-winger over the last year.
However, Phil Foden started instead and scored the Three Lions’ first goal. Saka appeared for the final 20 minutes as England cruised to a comfortable victory.
The Arsenal academy graduate was also taken off late in England’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine. It has now emerged why Southgate carefully managed the player’s game time during the international break.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has reportedly been playing through an achilles problem (Image: Getty)
According to the Daily Mail, Saka has been ‘nagged’ by an achilles problem since last season. The problem has caused him an issue since the previous campaign.
It has not prevented Saka from being in fine form over the last two years. He scored 15 goals in all competitions during the 2022-23 season, helping Arsenal finish second in the Premier League.
Saka already has two strikes in four matches this term. He is almost certain to be a key player for England at Euro 2024 next summer.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has urged the forward to ensure he learns how to deal with the strengthening expectations and attention from the media. The Spaniard advised Saka not to read too much into what people say about him.
Bukayo Saka started England’s Euro 2024 qualifer with Ukraine but was a substitute vs Scotland (Image: Getty)
“He’s going to have to deal with expectations of the media, with attention on the pitch,” Arteta said at the end of last season. “When you want to fulfil a role like the one he has at the moment, you need to be capable of doing that. So don’t read too much, don’t listen too much, just focus on what you have to do every day. That’s it.
“The way he talks to people, how he behaves, how he treats people, that’s because he has been raised like that.
“He still has a lot of things to improve and a lot of things to maintain. Before he wasn’t able to do that. So he needs to continue to maintain those things and elevate the level of other things that he can still do better.”
