….hope” Man reporter reveals what he’s heard from Arsenal club staff about Bukayo Saka following claim by Wenger

Sky Sports reporter reveals what he’s heard from Arsenal club staff about Bukayo Saka
Joe Adams

Sky Sports reporter reveals what he’s heard from Arsenal club staff about Bukayo Sa
Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill has provided an update on Bukayo Saka’s fitness ahead of Arsenal’s clash against Manchester City on Sunday.

Saka could be seen limping off for the Gunners’ during after just half an hour of their Champions League defeat to Lens on Tuesday evening.

The 21-year-old set up Gabriel Jesus to score before being forced off with an injury and replaced by Fabio Vieira.

Lens would go on to win the game 2-1 courtesy of goals from Adrien Thomasson Elye Wahi, but it was the sight of Saka hobbling off the pitch that may have caused Mikel Arteta the greatest concern.

wenger is one of the many coaches that believes in the potential of saka

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However, Cotterill has suggested the injury may not be as bad as it seems, claiming his departure could have been precautionary.

“I don’t want to give Arsenal and England fans false hope. But the feeling around here, and not at all official, is that Saka may not be too bad,” Cotterill said on the Sky Sports live match-blog. “Perhaps a muscle strain or maybe a precaution.”

Supporters will certainly hope that is the case as they prepare to host reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in a crunch match at the Emirates on Sunday.

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When asked if he regretted picking Saka for the game against Lens following knocks against both Tottenham and Bournemouth, Arteta replied: “No. It was a knock that he had the other day and he was perfectly fine. It was a back-heel, an action that can produce that kind of injury.

“Let’s see what the extent of it is and afterwards it’s too late. The last few were more knocks than anything else.

“He hasn’t really missed games. We gave him a break against Brentford (in the Carabao Cup) last week and that was all.

“He tried to backheel a ball in the first half and felt something muscular. He felt uncomfortable to carry on so we had to take him off.

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“We don’t know anything more. It was big enough not to allow him to continue to play the game and that’s a worry for us.

“He was really looking forward to playing like every player. It was a big Champions League night. I painted a picture and the type of scenario we were going to face today and they all knew about it.

“But this Champions League is so difficult to win away from home. Today we take a big lesson.”

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Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Football, Mikel Arteta, Manchester City
Joe Adams
Arsene Wenger made Arsenal replay game after controversial goal as Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp calls for the same
Josh Lawless

Published 15:27, 04 October 2023 BST
| Last updated 15:27, 04 October 2023 BST

Arsene Wenger made Arsenal replay game after controversial goal as Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp calls for the same
Arsene Wenger has already set a precedent with how to respond to calls for replays after controversy during a game.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is demanding that his side’s 2-1 defeat to Spurs is replayed after PGMOL met the club’s request and released the audio to further highlight the “significant human” error made in relation to Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal on Saturday.

When the linesman raised his flag, the incident was referred to VAR and the lines drew showed Cristian Romero had played Diaz onside.

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Incredibly, as the panicked audio shows, officials at Stockley Park believed the on-field call was to give the goal and once play restarted, it was too late to intervene.

VAR officials Darren England and Dan Cook have been stood down for the next round of Premier League games but Klopp told a press conference that “a replay is the right thing to do”.

Typically a replay is not afforded unless in extreme cases but in 1999, Arsenal allowed Sheffield United a second game following an FA Cup tie.

The Gunners beat the Yorkshire side 2-1 at Highbury but the winner, scored by Marc Overmars, was tinged with controversy.

The Blades kicked the ball out so an injured player could receive treatment but Nigeria striker Kanu played on from the resulting throw in and passed to Overmars, who slotted home.
The ex Ajax man wasn’t aware that there was an injury, it seems, but the visitors were understandably fuming.

It was a similar incident to what happened between Leeds and Aston Villa in the Championship a couple of years ago. Marcelo Bielsa ordered his team to let Villa skipper in a remarkable act of fair play but Wenger’s gesture was to offer the game to be replayed.

The FA gave their seal of approval and ten days later, the fifth round clash took place again and finished with the exact same scoreline. Overmars bagged again, as did Dennis Bergkamp.

Featured Image Credit: Getty & X

Topics: Arsene Wenger, Arsenal, Liverpool, Luis Diaz, Jurgen Klopp
Josh Lawless
“Saka has privately made clear…” – Journalist reveals what he’s heard about the Arsenal star’s contract situation
Joe Adams

Published 14:21, 24 February 2023 GMT
| Last updated 14:24, 24 February 2023 GMT

“Saka has privately made clear…” – Journalist reveals what he’s heard about the Arsenal star’s contract situation
Bukayo Saka has told Arsenal that he wants to extend his contract at the club following the Gunners’ excellent campaign, according to reports.

The 21-year-old has played a crucial part in his side’s ascent to the top of the table.

And with his contract set to run out in summer 2024, Mikel Arteta is understandably keen to tie him down to a new deal.

There has been a degree of uncertainty lingering over his future amid interest from title rivals Manchester City.

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But in a huge boost for Gunners fans, Saka has reportedly expressed his desire to stay at the Emirates.

Saka ‘wants to stay’ at Arsenal
The Daily Mail’s Sami Moknel claims ‘Saka has privately made clear that he wants to stay in north London having been convinced of the club’s direction under Arteta.’

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The winger is thought to be eager to play in the Champions League and barring a miracle; Arsenal will qualify for the competition for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

It is understood that the principles of an agreement are in place, with all parties now working on the smaller details within his contract.

The report also states that Saka will earn an eye-watering £200,000-a-week, making him the highest paid player at the club.

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour reckons England’s Player of the Year would be making the right decision.

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He told talkSPORT (quotes via HITC) in December: “Saka, he would have plenty of time to move on if he wants to move, but at this moment in time, he might think, ‘I have come through the ranks, there is a real togetherness here for the next couple of years. I want to be a part of that’.”

News of Saka’s potential new deal follows on from Gabriel Martinelli’s contract extension earlier this month, penning fresh terms keeping him in north London until 2027.

The Gunners are likely to work on central defender William Saliba next, who has enjoyed a fantastic season since returning from loan.

The Frenchman will be out of contract in 2024, with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain said to be sniffing around.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Bukayo Saka, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Premier League, Football
Joe Adams
Bukayo Saka following Cristiano Ronaldo advice ahead of North London derby
Rory O’Callaghan

Published 7:00, 22 September 2023 BST
| Last updated 7:00, 22 September 2023 BST

Bukayo Saka following Cristiano Ronaldo advice ahead of North London derby
Arsenal will face the toughest test of their season so far when they come up against bitter rivals Tottenham at the Emirates on Sunday.

Spurs travel to face their neighbours with a superior Premier League position, having been revitalised by new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Both north London clubs have taken 13 points from their opening five matches but it is arguably Spurs who have impressed more, with Postecoglou’s side adapting well to life after Harry Kane.

That is not to say Arsenal have been sluggish at the start of the new campaign. While some predicted the Gunners might struggle following the heartbreak of last season, Mikel Arteta’s side again look like challenging for honours after being boosted by their summer signings.

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Arsenal head into this weekend’s game having recorded consecutive wins over Manchester United, their bogey away team Everton, and PSV – who they thrashed 4-0 on their return to the Champions League on Wednesday night.

It was Bukayo Saka’s debut in the competition and the England international did not disappoint, opening the scoring after just eight minutes to help set up a comfortable win.

Speaking earlier this month, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour said he was impressed by the professional of the 22-year-old following a trip to visit London Colney.

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“He’s a massive player for both Arsenal and England,” Parlour said on talkSPORT.

“He never gets injured and he is always fit to play. He’s a real grounded young man who is always smiling. He’s been an absolute revelation. It’s the little things. I went to the training ground not so long ago and every single player had a day off. But he was in.

“He just said ‘I want to do a little bit more warm down and get my legs going’. He was on a bike, he didn’t have to be there. That’s the sort of professional he is to say ‘I want to go in and look after myself’ and that’s why he plays every week.

“He’s just a fine young man. I think every person likes him – even if you’re a neutral and you don’t even like Arsenal, I think most people take to people like Saka because he’s always smiling and doing the best he can, whether it’s for Arsenal or England, he always wants to put a performance in.”

Fortunately for both Arsenal and England, Saka shows no signs of complacency and is continually searching for ways to improve his game.

That constant strive for perfection is a trait commonly shared by players at the top of the game, including five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. In his final season at Manchester United, Ronaldo criticised the work ethic of some of his teammates and questioned why younger players did not have the same attitude as him.

“I say we have a long way to improve because, for me, the most important thing is the mentality. To look at yourself and say, ‘I can do better’,” Ronaldo told the Daily Mail.

“For you to be professional, help the team, the right mentality, self-taught and positive. All these details depend on you, not the coaches, the fans or the press. If you are proud of yourself and you have dignity, you have to do it much more.”

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Former United assistant manager Mike Phelan spoke about Ronaldo’s attitude earlier this month.

“The second time around, he came in a lot older and a lot more opinionated, strong-willed,” Phelan said. “He still had massively high standards and was terrific to work with. But I’d probably say a tougher mindset.

“He had been at Man United, he had been Portugal’s ever-present, he had been at [Real] Madrid. I liked it because he didn’t want his standards to drop, he wanted other people’s standards to come up. And sometimes you lose a few people along the way when that happens.

“I remember certain times when he pushed and pushed hard, and he didn’t get much reaction or much response. And there was frustration. When you deal with top, top people, it’s about them and where they can finish and where they can get to.”

Like Ronaldo, Saka has shown he has not only the talent but the work ethic and desire to achieve all his aims in football – starting with a win over Tottenham this weekend.

Arsenal rejected Bukayo Saka contract request despite signing new deal
Alex Brotherton

Arsenal rejected Bukayo Saka contract request despite signing new deal
Arsenal’s season might have ended in disappointment, but Bukayo Saka has given supporters reason to be cheerful heading into the summer break.

Despite topping the Premier League table for 248 days this season, Arsenal’s form nose-dived at the worst possible time and Manchester City leapfrogged them to snatch the title with three games to spare.

That said, rising from fifth place to title challengers in the space of a season is some achievement, one that Saka played a significant role in.

The attacker has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions this season, and for the second campaign running has featured in all of his side’s league matches.

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Given Saka’s impressive form and potential to get even better – he is still only 21 – there were rumours that other top clubs were plotting moves for him.

Saka’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of next season, and talks regarding a new deal dragged on for months.

Thankfully for Mikel Arteta’s side, the England star penned a new four-year deal earlier this week to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium until 2027.

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Saka’s basic wages have reportedly increased to £200,000 a week, which could increase to £290,000 if certain targets are met.

However, despite his obvious importance to the club, Arsenal were unwilling to grant Saka one of the contract requests he made.

The Gunners allowed Saka to sign a shorter extension than they had wanted to give him, giving the player greater flexibility regarding his future.

According to the Daily Mail, in return Arsenal rejected a request from Saka’s representatives that a release clause be inserted into the new contract.

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Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka
That gives Arsenal greater power in terms of holding out for an asking price, should Saka ask to leave further down the line.

Despite only being 21, Saka has already made 178 appearances for Arsenal. By the sounds of it, he’s looking forward to making many more.

“I’m just really happy. There’s been a lot of talking, and it’s been a while, but I’m here now. I think this is the right club, the right place to make the next step. It’s a beautiful club – look where we are,” Saka said after signing his deal.

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“For me, it’s about achieving my personal ambitions – how much I push myself and demand from myself each game, week in, week out. Then I have all the right people around me in terms of family, and when I come to the training ground, my team-mates, the coaching staff.

“I think I have everything I need to become the best player I can be, and that’s why I’m happy to stay here and be here for the future, because I really believe that we can achieve big things.”