Arsenal of England youngster, Bukayo Saka has received the medical all-clear to be named in The Gunners’ squad for this weekend’s English Premier League match against Newcastle United, megasportsarena.com reports.
It is a welcome change of narration for the Nigerian-born England under-19 international, who was initially rated doubtful for this Sunday’s fixture at Emirates Stadium, after he was forced off at halftime in The Gunners’ last match against Burnley, before the winter break.
However, Saka has now received the go-ahead to feature against The Magpies, in what will be his 24th match in all competitions this season for Arsenal, who are ten points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the standings.
After Sunday’s game in the EPL, Saka will also aim for a shirt in his side’s continental outing versus face Olympiakos of Greece, in the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, even in the midst of reports that Arsenal are not close to agreeing on a new contract with him.
Saka has been excellent for The Gunners this term, under both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta, but he may think a new contract is not worthwhile, as he is said to be attracting summer transfer interest from in and outside England.
A report by Daily Telegraph suggests that Arsenal are not close to reaching an agreement on the future of Saka, who has played 23 times for The Gunners this season, but he has often filled in due to injuries.
However, with the dark-skinned youngster starting to become a key player in the starting 11 for Arteta, The Gunners will be hoping they can convince him to pledge his future to the club by this summer, especially as he will be out of contract at the end of next season.
Saka’s current agreement set to run out in the next 17 months, ahead of which Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly showing interest in the fast-rising lad, but Arteta insists Arsenal are always keen to tie down promising players to new deals, but it follows a process.
Arteta stated: “I am really happy with how they [young players] are developing. Part of that developing is to improve the contract and to tie them to the club. But that has to follow a natural process. We have Edu, we have Raul, Vinai and Huss who are in charge of that and I am sure we will do the right thing when players deserve to improve and extend their contracts.”
Since making his debut for Arsenal’s first team, Saka has played 27 matches, including 16 in the Premier League, and he looks set for action again this weekend, after overcoming his latest injury concerns, as he took part in full training during the warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
A statement on Arsenal’s official website read: “Available for selection after being substituted during Burnley (a) following knock to right leg.”
