Bukayo Saka has offered a new update on his fitness after Arsenal’s thrilling Premier League showdown with Liverpool.
The England winger had remained a huge question mark for Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated clash between title rivals at the Emirates Stadium, having missed each of the last three games across all competitions with a hamstring injury suffered on international duty with England earlier this month.
However, Saka proved his fitness in time to start against Liverpool to offer Mikel Arteta’s side a major boost, opening the scoring with an excellent goal inside 10 minutes of a pulsating 2-2 draw in north London.
It was an accomplished display from the 23-year-old, who gave Andy Robertson a difficult afternoon as he featured for 85 minutes before being replaced by young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri after Liverpool had equalised for a second time though Mohamed Salah.
Arsenal will be desperate for Saka to now stay fit ahead of a crucial period in the season, with the Gunners - who now sit third behind leaders Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League table and five points off the top - having high-profile games against the likes of Preston, Newcastle, Chelsea and Inter Milan coming up.
And fans will be relieved to hear that the Gunners winger - the youngest Arsenal player ever to score 50 Premier League goals, eclipsing the great Thierry Henry - is feeling back to full fitness as he insisted that he could have finished the match if needed.
“I’m feeling good, I felt like I could finish the game but obviously the gaffer took me off. I feel good,” Saka told Sky Sports.
Asked if his celebration against Liverpool was inspired by Henry, Saka said: “Everything is Thierry Henry-ish. If you score it’s Thierry Henry, if you assist it’s Thierry Henry.
“He has every record Thierry Henry, so it’s nice. You want to win the game, but I have to be happy with this [record].”
