Bukayo Saka has not travelled with Arsenal’s squad for their Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
The 23-year-old, who picked up a hamstring issue during England’s 2-1 defeat by Greece in the Nations League on September 10, has been under the club’s medical care.
The Athletic previously reported that Saka was hopeful of being fit for the fixture at the Vitality Stadium, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stating on Friday that “it’s not a serious injury”.
“He’s evolving really well,” Arteta said. “He’s done a few things in the last few days when he came back from the national team after the second game. We are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon and he did some bits yesterday, so let’s see if he can make it on time.”
Defender Jurrien Timber also wasn’t spotted coming off the team bus, having not been in the matchday squad against Southampton at the start of the month. Arteta said on Friday he was “quite close” to returning.
Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Martinelli, who were all considered doubts on Friday, arrived on the south coast.
Arsenal have contended with a number of injury problems during the 2024-25 campaign, with captain Martin Odegaard sidelined after sustaining an ankle injury during September’s international break.
Arteta’s side could move to the top of the Premier League with a victory against Bournemouth this evening.
They face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Arsenal starting XI: David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino; Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz.
GO DEEPER
How Arsenal have become the Premier League’s most direct team from goal kicks
(Clive Mason/Getty Images)
