Arsenal given massive Bukayo Saka injury update as Manchester City return timeline emerges

There is hope thatBukayo Saka might indeed return earlier than many had initially feared when he went down against Leeds United. The winger was sprinting with the ball before pulling up, holding his left hamstring.

Mikel Arteta spoke after the match and admitted that it was a concern. That said, at the time, there was not much clarity on the situation.

“Those are the negatives of the day,” Arteta replied when asked for a post-match update. “So, Martin [Odegaard] felt something in his shoulder when he landed. We don't know. We'll have to scan him tomorrow and understand a bit better.

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“And Bukayo, while he was running with the ball, carrying the ball, wrestling with the defender, he felt something in his hamstring. So let's see.

“I think it's the other one. It's not the same one as the previous injury. But yeah, I mean, we've been two weeks and we already lost Kai, Martin and Bukayo. So it tells you how well-equipped you have to be in this league to manage and to maintain the level that we want.”

football.london, since then, has learned that the injuries for both Saka and Martin Odegaard are not as bad as first feared. There has been further reporting around the Hale Ender that suggests a three to four-week lay-off.

However, Charles Watts has been speaking to CaughtOffside and divulged that while the Nottingham Forest match on September 13 might come too soon, the hope will be that he will be close to a return by that point. This is pivotal because of the following fixture.

"Maybe the Nottingham Forest game after the international break will also come too soon for him, but there is certainly a hope he will be close to a return by that point," Watts writes. "Which will be a big boost considering Arsenal host Manchester City the following weekend."

The week after, Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium and so having Saka back for this game would be massive for Arteta. While there is hope that the recruitment this summer has been strong and provided depth to the team, having their star man back for such a pivotal title race-influencing fixture will be massive.