‘Arteta is to blame’ – fans explode as Bukayo Saka injury blow is confirmed
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been slammed after Bukayo Saka suffered a fresh injury setback while on England duty.
The 2024/25 campaign was a frustrating one for the Gunners as they again ended the season without silverware.
That ensures they have now not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup in Arteta‘s first season in charge at the Emirates Stadium all the way back in 2020.
One major issure for Arsenal was an injury to Saka, who missed several months of the campaign between December and April due to a hamstring injury.
Bukayo Saka facing new fitness concern
After Saka returned to training for Arsenal, he was quickly reintroduced to the side for the final months of the campaign by Areta.
That meant the winger had a busy end to the season as the Gunners competed in both the Premier League and Champions League until late in the campaign.
Indeed, even after Saka was forced off with a blow to the ankle as Arsenal won at Ipswich, he still featured in every game his side played after the March international break.
The 23-year-old was subsequently also included in Thomas Tuchel‘s England squad for the June round of international fixtures.
The Three Lions will take on minnows Andorra in Spain on Saturday evening (7 June) in the latest game of their World Cup qualifying campaign.
That will then be followed by a friendly with Senegal at The City Ground on Tuesday night (10 June), although Saka may not play a part in either of those games.
Mikel Arteta slammed over Arsenal star’s treatment
Ahead of that clash with Andorra, Tuchel revealed that Saka had not trained fully with England despite being named in the squad, due to concerns over his fitness.
It has since been reported that the Arsenal star will not feature in the matchday squad for the Three Lions in that World Cup qualifier, as a result of that situation [BBC Sport].
Taking to X to respond to that news, fans of Arsenal and other clubs hit out at Arteta for not taking more precautions with Saka after such a long time out with injury.
There was also praise for Tuchel for the fact that he now appears to be managing the winger’s minutes in a bid to protect him.