Bukayo Saka will be out of action for a few weeks after picking up a hamstring injury, leaving him unavailable for Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool this weekend as well as England’s September qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.
The 23-year-old forward suffered the setback during Arsenal’s 5–0 win over Leeds United, limping off in the second half. It’s not the first time he’s faced this challenge—last season, a similar problem kept him out for three months.
Adding to the concern, Martin Ødegaard is also a doubt for Sunday. The captain hurt his shoulder in the opening half against Leeds and was forced off before the break, later leaving the stadium with his arm in a sling. Despite the scares, the club remains hopeful that both players will recover without long-term issues.
In their absence, Mikel Arteta has attacking depth to call on, with options like Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman all in the mix.
Off the pitch, Arsenal are actively working on strengthening their backline. Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié has emerged as a leading target. The Ecuadorian defender, with over 160 appearances for the German side and a key role in their league and cup double last season, is available through a €60 million release clause and is reportedly open to a move.
Meanwhile, the club continues to balance the books after spending over £200 million on new arrivals this summer. Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, and Oleksandr Zinchenko could be allowed to leave, while Porto are showing interest in Jakub Kiwior.
