Bukayo Saka is a potential doubt to be named in the starting XI for England’s clash with Switzerland on Saturday 26th March at Wembley.
This comes as it has been reported that the Arsenal star has been suffering from illness (though nothing suggests that it is covid-related) at the team hotel at St George’s Park.
Bukayo Saka ill in his hotel room at St George’s Park but nothing has come back to suggest it is Covid-related in any way.
— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) March 23, 2022
Saka has been a shining light for Mikel Arteta this season, with the youngster spearheading the Gunners’ charge for a top 4 spot and a return of Champions League football to the Emirates Stadium come September.
His strike against Villa, the only goal of the game, took his tally for the season to 9, while the 20-year-old has also provided 5 assists from the right flank. Alongside compatriot Emile Smith Rowe and Brazilian prodigy Gabriel Martinelli, Saka has been a key player on the flanks for Arsenal this campaign, keeping record signing Nicolas Pepe out of the side.
To start for England?
Saka enjoyed a fruitful Euro 2020 that was overshadowed by his penalty miss in the final that ultimately saw the trophy head to Italy rather than to England. Heading into the tournament a doubt even to make the final 26 man squad, the then 19 year old appeared 4 times on England’s right flank, and seemed to earn the trust of Gareth Southgate very quickly.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on March 19, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
The Londoner has already won 14 caps for his country, and seems a certainty to head to the World Cup in November provided he stays injury-free. His starting berth is far from assured, however, with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Jarrod Bowen and Jadon Sancho all in the mix too for a position in Southgate’s front three.
This Saturday could well give someone else a chance to shine.
Read more:
Why Arsenal should consider Emmanuel Dennis as an Alexandre Lacazette replacement
Egypt vs Senegal betting tips: African World Cup play-off first leg preview, predictions and odds
Arsenal betting odds, next game:
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
Arsenal’s latest videos
2000 Premier League goals | Saka, Bergkamp, Henry, Wright & more!
Watch every single landmark goal for Arsenal in the Premier League era. All the…
2022-03-22T15:56:22Z
ACCESS ALL AREAS | Aston Villa vs Arsenal (0-1) | Unseen footage, behind the scenes & more
Grab a seat and settle into some amazing unseen footage from our 1-0 victory…
2022-03-21T19:50:38Z
Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 29 | 50 | 70 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 29 | 55 | 69 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 28 | 38 | 59 |
| 4 | Arsenal FC | 28 | 13 | 54 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 29 | 11 | 51 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 29 | 8 | 50 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 30 | 10 | 48 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30 | 5 | 46 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 29 | 1 | 36 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 27 | -4 | 36 |
| 11 | Southampton FC | 29 | -9 | 35 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 29 | 1 | 34 |
| 13 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 29 | -10 | 33 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 29 | -17 | 31 |
| 15th | Brentford FC | 30 | -14 | 30 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 30 | -33 | 29 |
| 17 | Everton FC | 27 | -18 | 25 |
| 18 | Watford FC | 29 | -26 | 22 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 27 | -16 | 21 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 29 | -45 | 17 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 20 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 12 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Tony, Ivan | Brentford FC | 11 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 9 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 9 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 9 |
| Rafinha | Leeds United | 9 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 9 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 8 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 8 |
| Antonio, Michael | West Ham United | 8 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 9 |
| Firpo, Junior | Leeds United | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 7 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 8 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 8 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 8 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 8 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 8 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| Romero, Christian | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 8 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 6 |
| Jimenez, Raul | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 5 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 7 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 7 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 11 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 9 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 8 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 7 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
| Antonio, Michael | West Ham United | 6 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 6 |
| James, Rece | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 6 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 5 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 5 |
| Henderson, Jordan | Liverpool FC | 5 |