{"id":295269,"date":"2023-10-05T22:24:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T22:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=295269"},"modified":"2023-10-05T22:24:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T22:24:20","slug":"arsenal-to-hold-talks-with-england-medics-over-sakas-fitness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/arsenal-to-hold-talks-with-england-medics-over-sakas-fitness\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal to hold talks with England medics over Saka's fitness"},"content":{"rendered":"
Arsenal are set to hold talks with England medics following Sunday\u2019s top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City, amid concerns over Bukayo Saka\u2019s overall fitness.<\/p>\n
Despite injury concerns about Saka heading into the international break, Gareth Southgate\u00a0selected the attacker in his squad to face Australia and Italy.<\/p>\n
There is a strong sense at Arsenal that Saka would benefit from a rest after Sunday\u2019s game against champions City, regardless of whether he is deemed fit enough to face Pep Guardiola\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
Saka limped off in the first half of Tuesday\u2019s 2-1 Champions League defeat in Lens, suffering with a suspected minor hamstring strain and a blow to his thigh.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old\u2019s fitness is being assessed on a day-by-day basis ahead of Sunday\u2019s game against City at the Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n
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Bukayo Saka was unable to see out the first half after picking up an injury in Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Lens<\/p>\n
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Mikel Arteta has said ‘it doesn’t look good’ for the attacker but player assessments are ongoing<\/p>\n
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Arsenal and England medics have already spoken about Saka\u2019s availability and Southgate has decided to select the winger, although the manager has admitted the situation could change.<\/p>\n
\u2018He\u2019s still being assessed as they\u2019ve obviously got a big game this weekend and then there\u2019s another seven days before we play Australia and 11 days before we play Italy, so everybody will monitor everything as we go forward,\u2019 said Southgate.<\/p>\n
Arsenal and England medical staff plan to speak after Sunday\u2019s game to discuss whether Saka should remain part of the international squad this time around.<\/p>\n
Whether Saka plays against City is likely to be key to his inclusion in England\u2019s plans. There is a sense at Arsenal that resting Saka during the international break is the best course of action, but an argument for the forward withdrawing from the squad next week would appear less convincing if he plays against City on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u2018I can only go via what Mikel (Arteta) has said about the last few games,\u2019 said Southgate. \u2018He is in contention for the weekend and we\u2019ve obviously got a very important qualifier.<\/p>\n
\u2018We look after the players as well as any country. We have really good dialogue with all of their clubs, I think they pretty much all would agree that we give better feedback than every other nation. Bukayo, for example, we haven\u2019t always played. I\u2019ve never ever taken a risk on a player\u2019s physical wellbeing. And nor would I.\u2019<\/p>\n
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Gareth Southgate has stressed that he would never risk a player’s physical wellbeing when asked about Saka’s inclusion for the next spate of internationals<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off\u00a0is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.<\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify<\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n