Bukayo Saka is a huge doubt for Arsenal’s heavyweight clash against Manchester United next week after sustaining an injury against Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
The London club are entering into a testing run of games which begins with a trip to Old Trafford on Thursday in what could be Ralf Rangnick’s first game in charge of the club.
Newcastle kept their opponents at bay during a largely uneventful first-half, but Saka eventually broke the deadlock only 11 minutes after the re-start of the match.
The England international was set free by a good pass from Nuno Tavares and kept his composure to find the far corner, blasting his shot beyond the reach of Martin Dubravka.
However, Saka’s joy was shortlived, when he appeared to sustain a hip injury in the next attack and although he tried to play on, he was eventually replaced by Gabriel Martinelli in the 64th minute of the clash.
The Brazilian attacker has been forced to settle for a bit-part role this campaign and hasn’t started a Premier League match since August, but gave a timely reminder of his ability with a superb finish moments after his introduction.
Martinelli’s clever run freed Takehiro Tomiyasu to run into and the full-back showed impressive vision to spot his teammate’s run with a clever pass which still required the 20-year-old to show good technique with a first-time finish.
More to follow.
