Mikel Arteta reveals Bukayo Saka 'demand' after injury with Arsenal star set for Carabao Cup minutes

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·23 de setembro de 2025

Mikel Arteta reveals Bukayo Saka 'demand' after injury with Arsenal star set for Carabao Cup minutes

Saka made his comeback in the draw against Man City after missing three Arsenal games with a hamstring injury

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Bukayo Saka is set to feature when Arsenal travel to Port Vale on Wednesday night.

Mikel Arteta has explained how the winger “needs minutes” after just returning from a hamstring injury.

Saka injured his hamstring last month during Arsenal’s win over Leeds and he has been out of action for four weeks.

The England star returned last Sunday, coming off the bench at half-time against Manchester City, and he is due to feature again when Arsenal face Port Vale in third round of the Carabao Cup.

“He needs minutes, and he’s demanding that as well,” said Arteta. “Obviously, when he’s been out for a while, you just need to get in the rhythm.

“You need to get that confidence on the pitch and repeat actions and exposure. And we will do that, obviously, gradually, because he’s been out for a while.

“But I like what I saw the [other] day when he came on.”

Back in action: Bukayo Saka

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal have been hit hard by injuries this season, with Noni Madueke the latest player to be struck down.

The winger injured his knee during Sunday’s draw with Man City and is set to be out for six to eight weeks.

Ben White, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard have all suffered injuries as well during the opening weeks of the season.

And asked about the spate of injuries, Arteta said: “Well, we looked at obviously everything.

“The one with Noni, it is bad luck. It’s a very unfortunate incident. With Kai, it is something similar.

“With Ben White, it was similar. With Martin Odegaard, who has been out, it was very similar because he damaged his shoulder twice doing the same action on the floor, which is very unlikely to happen.

“With Bukayo, it was more a muscular injury with the hamstring - maybe something to look at more in-depth, and we absolutely did that. Try to keep that as low as possible. That’s what we are trying to do.”