BUKA-GO SAKA
Mikel Arteta tells Bukayo Saka to jet off on HOLIDAY to help his recovery from hamstring surgery
Arsenal are currently short in attacking options
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BUKAYO SAKA is spending his rehab from hamstring surgery like any elite professional would.
Aside from recovering at home, the Arsenal star has remained a regular face at their London Colney training base after going under the knife just before Christmas Day – even supporting his teammates up close at home games.
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Hobbling on crutches, Saka was spotted pitch side at the Emirates watching his pals warm up ahead of the North London Derby in mid-week – and is expected to do the same ahead of today’s [SAT] clash with Aston Villa.
Arteta admires the commitment, but the Gunners boss has urged Saka to instead use this time to jet off on HOLIDAY, telling the England winger: You need it!
After facing Villa, Arsenal have another home game against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday before trips to Wolves and then Girona between January 25 and 29 – a four-day period that could be perfect for Saka to get some much-needed rest in the sunshine.
Asked if Saka should take a holiday somewhere nice, Arteta said: "Yeah, he needs to. He is obligated to go! With his girlfriend or his family, he can choose. Or on his own.
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"But he needs to get away for a few days and refresh. He can still do a lot of things with his rehab because it is the perfect stage. I think it will make him really better.
“He has been [around the squad] every single day. There is a moment, especially when we are going to be away for a few days, that he needs to do that. That is very important for him as well.
“We need to look after our players.”
Ever-present Saka started in all but three of Arsenal’s Prem games last season, as well as starting for England in every game of their Euros journey to the final in Germany last summer.
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This term, he has so far started 16 Prem games, as well as five of their six Champions League league phase matches.
On what Saka should send his manager as a thank you for granting some time off, Arteta laughed: “A nice picture - or a present!”
What Arteta really wants is one of his best players fit and firing sooner rather than later.
Saka is targeting an early March return – perhaps in time for Prem outings against Manchester United on March 8 and Chelsea on March 15.
Up until he hobbled off during a 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on December 21, Saka had been instrumental in Arsenal’s attack this term with five goals and 10 assists in the league.
Since then, the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling have tried to replicate Saka on the right wing with little success.
Jesus could now be crocked for the rest of 2025 with a ruptured ACL suffered in the FA Cup third round defeat to Man United, Nwaneri is recovering from a hamstring strain, Sterling looks shot of confidence or form while Martinelli and Trossard are naturally left-sided players.
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And since Saka’s injury, Arsenal have dropped two points to Brighton in the Prem, been knocked out of the FA Cup and face an uphill task to reach the Carabao Cup final after a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in their semi-final first leg.
It is why Arteta is hoping to land a new forward during this January window, but there will still be huge pressure on the shoulders of Saka to make an instant impact on his long-awaited return.
Whether Arsenal will still be in the title race by then is another matter, despite recently closing the gap on Liverpool to four points, with Arne Slot’s Red still having a game in hand.
On Saka’s time away from the team, Arteta continued: “The main part is the psychological part of how they feel emotionally. Because being a long time without doing what you love is not easy.
“Your routine changes completely. You are much more isolated because you're not going to work. That takes a little while to handle and to settle.
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“So, it's a moment that if he can have a break as well and enjoy the parts of his life, great.
“To be closer to the family, great. To learn about the game, certain aspects that he can still improve and develop.”
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