Arsenal have received a worrying update on the fitness of star forward Bukayo Saka as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, November 23. The 23-year-old was one of the players who pulled out of the England squad that faced Greece and Ireland last week due to injury.
Saka has been in dazzling form for Arsenal since the start of the 2023-24 season, scoring three goals and providing seven assists in ten league appearances. The England international picked up an injury in his side's 1-1 draw against Chelsea after a clash with Marc Cucurella in the second half.
Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel has now claimed that Bukayo Saka faces a race against time to be fit for Nottingham Forest's visit to the Emirates. The talented winger is carrying a thigh injury, and reports indicate that he has yet to join the team in full training.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be able to provide in-depth information on Saka's fitness in his pre-match press conference. The Spanish tactician has many more players to think about, including Declan Rice, who also pulled out of the England squad through injury, and Leandro Trossard.
The Gunners will hope to have Saka fit for the clash against Forest, seeing as they have struggled in the league in recent weeks. They sit in fourth place, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, and have failed to win any of their last four league games.
Saka has been their most important player in attack and will be a big miss, if unavailable for the game against Forest, who have the same number of points as them.
Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney has returned to training with the first team, having spent the last five months battling on the sidelines.
Tierney trained at the Sobha Realty Training Centre with the squad. His return to fitness will allow Jurrien Timber take his preferred right-back role in the absence of Ben White.
Kieran Tierney spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Real Sociedad before picking up a hamstring injury during Euro 2024 in June. The 27-year-old returned to individual training in September and has now resumed team training amid injuries to Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu.