Mikel Arteta explains Bukayo Saka absence vs Bournemouth: ‘There was no point pushing him’

Bukayo Saka missed Arsenal’s trip to Bournemouth on Saturday with Mikel Arteta not wanting to take any risks with one of his key players.

The 23-year-old picked up a hamstring issue during England’s 2-1 defeat by Greece in the Nations League on September 10 and returned to his club for assessment.

The Athletic previously reported that Saka was hopeful of being fit for the fixture at the Vitality Stadium, with Arteta stating on Friday that “it’s not a serious injury”.

With a home meeting with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League coming up on Tuesday, Arteta revealed he didn’t want to rush any return.

“We tried the last few days but he didn’t have the right feeling,” he told Sky Sports ahead of the game. “There was no point pushing him and we have very good options as well.”

Defender Jurrien Timber also wasn’t spotted coming off the team bus, having not been in the matchday squad against Southampton at the start of the month. Arteta said on Friday he was “quite close” to returning.

Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Martinelli, who were all considered doubts on Friday, arrived on the south coast.

Arsenal have contended with a number of injury problems during the 2024-25 campaign, with captain Martin Odegaard sidelined after sustaining an ankle injury during September’s international break.

GO DEEPER

How Arsenal have become the Premier League's most direct team from goal kicks

(Clive Mason/Getty Images)