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The pair’s rehabilitation timeline is expected to be longer than initially predicted, resulting in an extended period of being out of action.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s medical staff has scheduled a crucial meeting to assess the injury status of key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. The meeting, set to take place on Thursday, comes after a new timeline emerged regarding their return to action. Both players are currently sidelined due to hamstring injuries, and their absence has been keenly felt by the team.
Manager Mikel Arteta and the club’s medical staff will convene to discuss the progress of Saka and Martinelli’s recovery and to define a more accurate timeline for their return. The initial prognosis suggested that both players would be back in action before the March international break. However, recent developments indicate that their return may be delayed until after the break.
Bukayo Saka, who tore his hamstring during a match against Crystal Palace in December, has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation. Despite initial hopes of an earlier return, Arteta confirmed that Saka would not be available for the upcoming Champions League round of 16 ties against PSV Eindhoven. Similarly, Gabriel Martinelli, who sustained his hamstring injury during the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle, is also expected to miss the crucial fixtures.
Arteta expressed cautious optimism about the players’ recovery, stating that both Saka and Martinelli are evolving well but still have some way to go before they can rejoin the squad. “They are evolving well, but they’re still a bit far. We have a meeting to discuss where they are, especially Gabi, who probably has a chance before Bukayo to come in, but how soon that is, we’ll have to see how it evolves in the next week or 10 days,” Arteta said.
The absence of Saka and Martinelli has been a significant blow to Arsenal’s attacking options, especially with other key forwards like Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz also sidelined for the season. The Gunners have struggled to find the back of the net in recent matches, including a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest and a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United.
Arsenal’s next match after the international break is against Fulham on April 1, and Arteta hopes to have both Saka and Martinelli available for selection by then. The team will have a clear weekend to integrate the returning players gradually before taking on Fulham midweek.
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