Published on 10.10.2023
Arsenal’s forward, Bukayo Saka, has been ruled out of England’s upcoming games against Australia and Italy due to an injury.
Saka was absent from Arsenal’s recent 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester City due to a hamstring injury. Following an assessment by England’s medical team, the FA confirmed his withdrawal from the squad. As a result, England’s squad now consists of 25 players.
England is scheduled to face Australia on October 13th, followed by an encounter with Italy in a European Championship qualifier four days later.
Arsenal manager, Arteta, stated, “No, he will not make it.” He explained that Saka has not participated in any training sessions and is currently unavailable for football.
Saka’s absence on Sunday brought an end to his streak of 87 consecutive Premier League appearances, highlighting his importance to the Arsenal squad. He has been dealing with a hamstring issue in recent weeks, having to leave the pitch during Arsenal’s 2-1 Champions League loss to Lens and being substituted in last weekend’s win against Bournemouth.
England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, emphasized that he wouldn’t take any risks with Saka’s physical well-being, even though England has the opportunity to secure qualification for next summer’s European Championship during this international break. He stressed the importance of prioritizing a player’s health over all else.
