SETTABLOID

Bukayo Saka could be fit for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth after the international break despite picking up an injury while playing for England in the Nations League defeat to Greece on Thursday.

The 23-year-old was taken off in the second half after appearing to pick up an injury to his right leg and has returned to the Gunners where he will be assessed by medical staff. Many feared Saka had sustained a hamstring injury but Lee Carsley has suggested the Hale Ender’s knock is not that serious.

As reported by the Mirror, the England medical staff believe Saka might have made the Finland game on Sunday but, having played just three days earlier, they did not want to take a gamble on his fitness so he did not even travel to Finland with the rest of the squad. Carsley added: “Bukayo would have been close but it would have been unfair to take a risk with him. He’s a positive person and I expect him to be fine.”

Phillips claimed that Rice is an unbelievable player, while he reminisced on how surprised he was when the pair first trained together.

Indeed, Phillips says that he was gobsmacked by just how athletic Rice was when he first played alongside him.

Just a few years ago, Rice and Phillips were combining as one of the best midfield pairings in all of Europe.

Indeed, England were perhaps at their best when Phillips and Rice were in the same team, and they even drew praise from Barcelona legend Xavi.

Mikel Arteta has less than a week left on the training pitches at London Colney before Arsenal return to action. The Gunners have won each of their last four games across all competitions, and they remain unbeaten in the Premier League since April.

Arteta’s side will be keen to extend that streak when they face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon. As it stands, just one point separates Liverpool at the top of the table from Manchester City and the north Londoners.

Mikel Arteta was once considered a ‘genuine contender’ to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The report states that the Premier League champions used to view the Spaniard as a potential option, even when he was struggling during his early days at Arsenal.

It is tight at the top of the Premier League table at this early stage of the season. Just one point separates the top three as Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal do battle for the title.

It is sure to be a battle that goes right to the end of the campaign and will surely see plenty of twists and turns along the way. Liverpool lead the way currently with 18 points from seven games, one clear of City and Arsenal.

Arsenal actually have the second-best defensive record in the league, having conceded six goals in those seven games. Liverpool have the best record, with just two conceded.

Mikel Arteta could have up to eight Arsenal stars absent through injury for their return to Premier League action against Bournemouth. The Gunners currently sit third in the table and boast an unbeaten record from seven games, despite the huge absences Arteta has had to cover for.

The latest injury worry has arrived surrounding Bukayo Saka after he was withdrawn in England’s Nations League clash against Greece. After the game, head coach Lee Carsley offered an early update on his condition.

Saka has since returned to London Colney in order to undergo further assessment with his availability to feature against the Cherries in serious doubt. With Saka having returned early from international duty, Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz did not even make it that far

The decision was made for both to not represent Ghana and Germany, respectively, in order to manager minor injuries and thus they will likely be in contention to make the clash on the south coast. One player guaranteed to be absent for that game is club captain Martin Odegaard as he continues to recover from ankle ligament damage.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is still aiming to return from injury in November after missing the last four weeks with angle ligament damage. Mikel Arteta, Norway boss Stale Solbakken and Odegaard himself have all provided updates over the last few weeks with conflicting reports emerging as a result.

Prior to the win against Southampton, Odegaard issued a detailed update on his ongoing recovery which seemingly arrived as a major boost “I just wanted to start with the latest on my injury and rehab. In the last week or so I’ve made really good progress,” he revealed in his Arsenal programme notes.

 

The Italian has already secured his spot as a starter in Mikel Arteta’s team, and he’s produced in the big moments.

His incredible goal against Manchester City has already made him a fan favourite, while he’s been solid in almost every game he’s played.

It’s genuinely been hard to pick a flaw in Calafiori’s game so far, but speaking TalkSPORT, Adrian Clarke has claimed that he’s been surprised by one aspect of Calafiori’s game so far.

Indeed, the pundit says that he really didn’t expect Calafiori to be as attack-minded as he’s proven to be so far.

Arsenal striker Kai Havertz is currently in red-hot form for the Gunners, helping them remain firmly in the Premier League title, Champions League and Carabao Cup picture.

Havertz has registered six goals and one assists from 10 Arsenal outings in all competitions this season.

The Germany international has scored four Premier League goals to help the Gunners go third in the table.

Havertz also netted in the Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain and in the Carabao Cup rout of Bolton Wanderers.

Needless to say, the 25-year-old has come a long way since his difficult days at Chelsea, which saw him need some time to find his feet at Arsenal.

With the latest news that Bukayo Saka may be returning from England to our treatment table not a reason for Arsenal to think our season is over. The gunners have been no stranger to having absentees for much of this campaign so far with key players such as Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, Ben White and Zinchenko, just to name a few, missing crucial games this season through injury or suspension.

Usually when we have an injury, most gooners seem to get one thing wrong and this is for it to be compulsory that we make a like for like replacement for the absentee. In modern football, the term squad is used more often than not because football is played with more than just 15 really good players like in the past.

Mikel Arteta still has one week to prepare for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth after the international break.

Currently third in the table and just one point behind league leaders Liverpool, the Gunners have started the 2024/25 season in impressive form and Arteta will want to continue that run next Saturday (October 19). Arsenal travel to Bournemouth in the Saturday evening kick-off and will have the chance to go top, with Liverpool and Man City playing on Sunday.

Arteta will be hoping in the coming days that none of his Arsenal players pick up any serious injuries while away with their countries. The Gunners do have 12 senior players working at the Sobha Realty Training Centre due to injury or not being called up to international squads, so Arteta will be able to get a few beneficial training sessions in with a handful of his squad in the coming days.