Bukayo Saka injury news: Mikel Arteta reveals reason for Arsenal sub against Fulham as "hunger" to win Premier League grows

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka's substitution against Fulham was planned successful advance, and the Arsenal prima has not picked up an injury.

The Gunners moved six points up of Manchester City successful the Premier League connected Saturday aft beating Fulham 3-0 astatine home.

Viktor Gyokeres scored doubly and Saka managed to people once, though the second was brought disconnected astatine fractional time, fuelling fears of an injury.

Arteta insisted the substitution was pre-planned, telling reporters: "[Saka] made 2 actions that decided the game, and we cognize what he's susceptible of. He's travel backmost successful the astir important play of the season, and present he's fresh.

"His caput is fresh, his hunger is astatine the highest imaginable height, and I deliberation helium needed a show similar that to interaction the team, truthful that's a large level for Tuesday.

"We [had to sub him because] helium played 30-odd minutes successful Madrid, present he's played 45 minutes. We request to ramp up his load, but we request to beryllium cautious due to the fact that we request him connected that pitch."

Saka made his comeback from an Achilles wounded against Newcastle United connected April 25, and helium has lone started 23 Premier League games successful 2025-26.

Bukayo Saka: The antheral to triumph the Premier League rubric for Mikel Arteta?

Saka whitethorn not person been astatine his champion this season, but it is understandable that helium has struggled pursuing hamstring country successful December 2024, arsenic good arsenic a big of different issues this term.

The Englishman is undoubtedly the club's astir impactful forward, with his dribbling quality and set-piece transportation making him a superior threat.

Saka produced 1 of his astir implicit performances of the play connected Saturday, and Arteta indispensable proceed to extract maximum worth from the attacker connected the pitch.

If the 24-year-old tin debar an setbacks successful the closing weeks of the campaign, past helium could beryllium the quality betwixt 2nd and first.

Premier League and Champions League: Should determination beryllium much optimism?

March and April was not benignant to Arsenal, with the nine losing the EFL Cup final, exiting the FA Cup successful the quarter-final to Southampton and losing to Manchester City and Bournemouth successful the Premier League.

However, Arsenal volition beryllium favourites to bushed Atletico Madrid astatine location connected Tuesday successful the Champions League, and doing truthful would unafraid a spot successful the Champions League final.

Though galore fans and pundits person been captious of Arteta's broadside this season, they are lone 5 games distant from winning an historical double, truthful possibly determination should beryllium much optimism astatine the Emirates.