- The 22-year-old was not selected to face Pep Guardiola’s side in the 1-0 win at the Emirates.
- Arteta excluded player from England duty after fiery top-of-the-table clash
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Bukayo Saka is set to join the England national team camp ahead of the international break friendlies and European Championship qualifiers, according to reports.
Gareth Soutgate called up the starting XI last week, despite Saka’s knock in the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat at Lens in the Champions League.
Arsenal and the FA are understood to have held discussions over whether the player should rejoin the national team during the break, with his national team believing a rest would suit the player – who has started every Premier League and Champions League. tie this season – a world of good.
Despite claiming the starlet was “in contention”, Mikel Arteta opted not to pick Saka for the matchday squad for the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday.
But according to the evening standardthe FA are expected to welcome the 22-year-old to St George’s Park this week.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka (above) could yet join Gareth Southgate’s England side at St George’s Park after missing Sunday’s match against Manchester City.
The 22-year-old picked up a knock against Lens in a Champions League defeat in midweek.
Mikel Arteta shared that Saka didn’t train on Saturday ahead of the weekend’s game
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The news may come as something of a surprise to the north London club’s head coach, who seemed adamant that Southgate would give the player a rest.
“No, he couldn’t come,” Arteta said after the final whistle when asked if his player would join the team. “He hasn’t had a single training session, so he will be out.
“He is not available to play football at the moment.”
England medical staff are believed to be preparing to assess the player at St George’s Park, ahead of a likely reduced schedule.
Mail Sport reported on Friday that England would allow Saka to complete a significantly reduced training schedule and that he was unlikely to be named in the matchday squad for the team’s friendly against England. Australia Friday evening.
But Saka could still feature in England’s competitive match, which sees them face Italy at Wembley on Tuesday in their next round of Euro 2024 qualifying.
England currently sit at the top of Group C with a 13-point lead from their last three qualifying matches.
Gareth Southgate insisted he would not jeopardize Saka’s fitness with his selection
The striker has been a force to be reckoned with for club and country over the past few seasons.
After Sunday’s home win, Arteta admitted he had been ‘tempted’ to risk his talented player’s fitness, but when Saka was unable to attend training on Saturday the decision was made for him .
At a press conference ahead of the international games, when broaching the subject of his controversial selection of Saka, Southgate claimed he would never make a selection decision that would endanger a player’s fitness .
“There are certain key games where, if it’s possible to have your best players, then you want to have them,” Southgate said. “We have a responsibility to qualify for the country.
“But… I was a player… I never took a risk on the physical well-being of a player. And neither do I.