Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is still expected to be sidelined for a while, as reports indicate he won’t return to action anytime soon. The England international was not present at training as the team prepares for their upcoming Champions League round of 16 match against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
Saka has been out of action since December after suffering a hamstring injury during a match against Crystal Palace, just before the Christmas break. Although he was spotted at Arsenal’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai earlier in February, his absence from training now suggests that his return may still be some time away. As Arsenal continues their struggle in the Premier League title race, they are missing his crucial presence on the pitch.
BBC Sport’s ‘Live Blog’ reports that Arsenal’s players gathered around manager Mikel Arteta for a huddle after their warm-up session, but Saka was noticeably absent from the group.
Saka has been one of the most consistent performers for Arsenal under Arteta, with an impressive tally of 67 goals and 63 assists in just 250 appearances for the club. This includes 52 goals in the Premier League, which has earned him recognition as one of the top wingers in world football. His absence has been deeply felt, with Arsenal struggling in both domestic and cup competitions without him.
The team’s hopes for a title were dashed after they were knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle United and the FA Cup by Manchester United. As a result, their focus now lies solely on the Premier League, where they’ve managed six wins out of 10 games. However, this hasn’t been enough to keep up with a dominant Liverpool side, leaving the Champions League as their only realistic shot at silverware.
If Arsenal advances past PSV, it’s expected that Saka could return for their quarter-final clash, potentially against Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, at the start of April. But whether they reach that stage will depend on how the team fares without Saka’s impact in the upcoming fixtures.
