Saka Quells Arsenal Panic After England Win
Arsenal and England fans breathed a collective sigh of relief after Bukayo Saka dismissed any fresh injury concerns following the Three Lions' 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Serbia. The winger was spotted signalling to the bench during the match, sparking immediate fears of a potential problem for both club and country.
The On-Pitch Gesture Explained
ITV cameras captured Saka appearing to limp and make a gesture towards the dugout shortly after he had opened the scoring for England. This sight would have sent a shiver down the spine of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, given the player's recent history with hamstring issues. However, the situation quickly became clear. A break in play allowed Saka to head over to the touchline, not for treatment, but to change his football boots, which were apparently causing him discomfort.
Saka played the full 90 minutes of the match and was a standout performer in Thomas Tuchel's side. He later confirmed the simple truth in a post-match interview with ITV, stating emphatically: "No, no, no, I just wanted to change my boots, that was it." His Arsenal teammate, Eberechi Eze, sealed the win with a late second goal.
Broader Context for Arsenal and Arteta
This update is a significant boost for Mikel Arteta, who has only recently regained Saka's services after a hamstring problem sidelined the 24-year-old earlier in the season. Saka had struggled to find his scoring form upon return but broke that duck with a goal in Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Sunderland just last weekend.
Injuries have been a persistent challenge for the Gunners this campaign, though their deep squad has helped them navigate key absences. Players such as Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyokeres have all missed matches. The latest concern is defender Riccardo Calafiori, who was absent from Italy's squad due to a hip issue, though this was described as a minor problem with a separate training programme in place.
Looking ahead, Arteta will be hopeful that Calafiori is fit for the crucial North London Derby against Tottenham after the international break. The manager has also offered a positive, if vague, update on other injured players, hinting that one or more of Madueke, Odegaard, Martinelli, or Gyokeres could return for the Sunderland fixture.
For now, the confirmation that Saka's gesture was merely a request for new footwear and not a sign of physical distress is the best news Arsenal could have received during the international break.
