Bukayo Saka’s injury during England’s 2-1 defeat to Greece in the UEFA Nations League has left Arsenal with concerns about his fitness. The 23-year-old started for England under interim manager Lee Carsley, but things took a turn when Saka missed a tackle on Greece’s goalscorer, Vangelis Pavlidis.
Immediately after the goal, Saka went down with an injury and couldn’t continue, leading to his substitution by Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.
Saka’s performance at Wembley was not one to remember. Before being substituted, he was booked for a foul on Giorgos Masouras and struggled to replicate his usual form, despite having a strong season with Arsenal, where he has contributed seven assists and two goals. England had other close calls too, with Greece nearly scoring again before having a goal disallowed for offside.
Ollie Watkins, who came on as a substitute, had a chance to level the score for England but missed, leaving the Three Lions vulnerable as Greece pushed for a second.
Eventually, England equalized through Jude Bellingham in the 88th minute. However, Pavlidis capitalized on a defensive scramble in stoppage time to score the winning goal, handing England their first competitive defeat at Wembley in four years.
Saka’s injury is a major concern for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who is already dealing with the absence of captain Martin Odegaard. With upcoming matches against Bournemouth in the Premier League, Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, and potential title rivals Liverpool, Saka’s fitness will be critical for Arsenal’s aspirations. The Gunners will also face Preston North End in the Carabao Cup, putting pressure on their squad depth.
Arteta will be hoping for positive news on Saka, as Arsenal cannot afford to lose another key player during a busy October fixture list.
