Mikel Arteta has confirmed Bukayo Saka will be out for “weeks”, leaving Arsenal to cope without one of their key attacking players when they host Hull City on Saturday afternoon. It is a timely setback for a side that is already managing fitness questions ahead of the international break.
The Arsenal manager was clear that Saka’s recovery is not a matter of days. The forward picked up the injury in last month’s 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich, and Arteta said: “We’re talking obviously about weeks.” He added: “let's see after the international break.”
Arteta: Saka needs time, not pressure
Arteta’s message on Saka was calm but definitive. He said: “He's going to start hitting the pitch and start to have more activity and see how he feels, but unfortunately he's going to be out for a while.”
That matters because Arsenal are not just planning for one match. The international break is coming next, and Arteta made it clear he does not want to rush players back before they are ready. “I don't want to put these guys under too much pressure. They are doing their best to get back fit, Bukayo is desperate to get back with the team, but it's still quite early,” he said.
Saka was already omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad because of the injury, so Arsenal will now have to wait and see how his recovery develops once domestic football pauses.
Saliba and Konsa add to the national-team picture
Arteta was also asked about William Saliba and Ezri Konsa, two other defenders whose availability is relevant both for Arsenal and for the wider international picture. Saliba has not started this season after the back injury he suffered in the World Cup, but he returned to the bench for the first time.
France are due to announce their decision regarding Saliba at 5pm this evening, and Arteta said Arsenal have been in close contact. “We've been in very close contact [with France], I think they're announcing at 5pm this evening, so they have all the information,” he said. “Now it's about them, about Zinedine [Zidane] in this case, to give the call. We will accept whatever it is. It's more between them, because William needs minutes as well.”
He added: “I know how much he loves to be around the national team, it's a new manager, a really exciting one as well, so whatever he's decided is fine for us.”
Konsa, meanwhile, was one of five Arsenal players called up to the England squad and is expected to be fine. Arteta said: “He's fine - he was feeling much better today. We took him out on Wednesday for a precaution, but yesterday and today he's been feeling good.”
Arsenal had beaten Slavia Prague 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, when Konsa’s knee knock first prompted concern. That issue now appears to have eased, which is a positive for both club and country.
A proud moment before focus shifts to Hull
Arteta also spoke about the wider significance of Arsenal’s presence in the England squad. “It's a proud thing to have a big English core in the national team from our club. It's something that is part of our identity,” he said. “Not only the number, but as well the players that represent us and the national team. They are super happy to be back, you can see that.”
For Arsenal, though, the immediate task remains the home meeting with Hull City in north London. Arteta summed up the balance neatly: “So let's focus on tomorrow, and after that they can go and be with the national team. It's a moment that [they've] earned, and need to enjoy now.”
The headline concern is Saka, and the answer is now clear enough: Arsenal will be without him for a spell. But the wider update also suggests Saliba could still be part of the conversation before the break, while Konsa looks available for the weekend as Arsenal try to finish this block of fixtures in control.
