Saka back to lift club and country
BUKAYO SAKA has handed Arsenal and England a huge boost, with the forward fit again following his injury scare at the weekend.
The 21-year-old hobbled off in the first half of Sunday’s 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest, sparking fears he could miss the World Cup.
Despite suffering a heavily bruised ankle, Saka returned to training yesterday and manager Mikel Arteta confirmed he is in contention to feature against FC Zurich tonight. Arsenal need to win to ensure they top the group and avoid a play-off tie. There was also good news about Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mohamed Elneny, who are close to returning following injuries. Elneny has not played since August due to a hamstring problem, and a calf injury has kept Zinchenko out of Arsenal’s past eight matches.
‘They are in different stages. Obviously Mo had a long-term injury but he has recovered in a really good way and he’s been training with the team for a week or two now,’ Arteta said. ‘Alex is just very recent and he trained just two training sessions and Bukayo just missed one or two and he was fine today.’ Arteta feels responsibility to protect those players heading to the World Cup, but he warned that he doesn’t want to see anyone with an eye on Qatar. ‘We are playing for Arsenal at the moment and that’s what they have to focus on,’ he said. This week has seen Arteta linked with a possible return to Barcelona, where he began his playing career. But he insisted: ‘What I can say, I’m extremely happy, I’m proud to be where I am. I think Barcelona now are in a really good path, I think they have a phenomenal coach (Xavi), a coach who has been an absolute legend in that club and has lifted the whole place and you have to be very respectful of that.’ Gabriel Martinelli reiterated his desire to stay in north London as contract talks continue.
The Brazilian, 21, is one of Arsenal’s standout players this season, and has less than two years remaining on his current deal, though the club have the option to extend it to 2026. ‘I’m very happy at Arsenal. I said it many times. This is my club. I love to be here, I love the city, the club, everything about Arsenal. I want to stay. I’m very happy,’ he said, before adding with a smile: ‘They just need a pen.’