Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka is desperate to play for Arsenal again | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that winger Bukayo Saka is determined to return to action for the Gunners as soon as possible.

Arteta made the comments about Saka following Arsenal’s failure to win against Manchester United away from home at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

The 1-1 draw with the Red Devils means that Arsenal are now second in the Premier League table with 55 points from 28 matches.

The North London club are as many as 15 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have played 29 games.

Saka did not play for Arsenal against Man United because he is on the sidelines with a hamstring injury for which he had to undergo surgery in December.

Brazil international forward Gabriel Martinelli returned to action against Man United after recovering from the hamstring injury that he suffered in early February.

Martinelli was expected to be back only after this month’s international break, and while Arsenal fans would have hoped for something similar with Saka, Arteta has made it clear that it is not to be the case.

The Arsenal boss, though, has revealed that the 23-year-old England international winger is determined to be back as soon as possible and is desperate to play for the team again.

When asked when Saka will be back, Arteta said, as quoted on Arsenal’s official website: “With Gabi it was a bit different the kind of injury that he had and I think we talked about it last week that he was much closer than Bukayo.

“After the international break, let’s see where he is – his progress is really good, he’s really willing, as you can imagine, so we are positive that in a few weeks, he’ll hopefully be back.”

View: Arsenal are badly missing Bukayo Saka

Saka is one of the best wingers in the world and is one of the most important players for Arsenal.

There is no doubt that the Gunners are missing Saka. One wonders how close the north London club would have been to Premier League leaders Liverpool now had he been fit throughout.

Saka has scored nine goals and given 13 assists in 24 appearances for Arsenal so far this season.

The winger scored 20 goals and made 14 assists in 47 matches in all competitions for the North London outfit in the 2023-24 campaign.