Theo Walcott drops Bukayo Saka fitness hint ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City
Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott expects Bukayo Saka to shake off his injury knock and play against Manchester City in Sunday’s massive showdown at the Emirates. The Gunners have been sweating over the fitness of their winger since he limped out of their Champions League defeat to Ligue 1 side Lens on Tuesday evening.
Fortunately, multiple scans have shown he sustained no serious injuries and he was able to train with the rest of the squad on Saturday ahead of facing off against City.
Theo Walcott’s Confidence in Saka’s Fitness
Walcott feels it is absolutely imperative that Saka is in the team and expects him to be fit, suggesting he might have had a little inside information. Speaking on Sky Sports on Sunday, Walcott said: ‘So is he going to be fit? This is the sort of game he’s going to want to be fit for, of course, like every game.
‘He’s so crucial. He’s the first player on that team sheet, that’s why his workload of football has been a lot – not just for Arsenal, England as well. But essentially he just wants to play games, and I love that about him.’
Asked about the fitness and availability of Saka at his pre-match press conference on Friday, manager Mikel Arteta said: ‘Well, he is in contention. We’ll see how he progresses from here to Sunday. Obviously he had to leave the pitch [against RC Lens], that’s never good news, but let’s see how he recovers.’
Gabriel Martinelli Could Also Make a Surprise Appearance
In addition to Saka being in the team to take on City, Gabriel Martinelli could also make a surprise appearance on the bench after accelerating his recovery from a hamstring injury in the past 48 hours.
Conclusion
Theo Walcott is confident that Bukayo Saka will be fit to play against Manchester City on Sunday, and manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he is in contention. Gabriel Martinelli could also make a surprise appearance on the bench after accelerating his recovery from a hamstring injury in the past 48 hours. It will be an exciting match, and Arsenal fans will be hoping that their star players are fit and ready to go.