Bukayo Saka has been ruled out of Arsenal’s final game of the season against Everton, which they must win to have any chance of pipping Manchester City to the title.
Arsenal are two points behind City heading into the last day, with Pep Guardiola’s side expected to seal a record fourth-straight title when taking on West Ham at home.
Nevertheless, Arsenal will look to put the pressure on their rivals, although they must do so without the influential Saka, who was injured on the eve of this title-deciding day.
Here’s what we know about Saka’s injury, and what it could mean for England with Euro 2024 now less than one month away.
What we know about Bukayo Saka’s injury so far
Saka has scored 16 goals and recorded nine assists across 35 Premier league starts this season. When’s he fit, he plays.
A thigh injury saw him miss the October win over Manchester City, while he picked up a knock in the reverse fixture in March that saw him miss the next game against Luton. When England’s Euro 2024 squad is announced – with eight places up for grabs
The winger also missed England’s March friendlies against Brazil and Belgium through injury, and has given Gareth Southgate another scare ahead of Euro 2024 after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed a muscle injury was picked up ahead of their match at home to Everton.
“Unfortunately he picked up a small muscle injury in training and he wasn’t available to play,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
“Fortunately, we have some great players, Martinelli steps in and we need to win anyway.
“He’s been incredibly consistent throughout the season and he’s always been available and he was gutted last night when he got that injury.”
Is Saka a Euro 2024 concern?
Unless this issue leads to further complications, a “small muscle injury” should not hamper Saka’s prospects of featuring at Euro 2024. Indeed, Arsenal were confident on Sunday that the winger was not in danger of missing the tournament.
The 22-year-old is widely expected to start for Southgate in Germany, where England first face Serbia in Group C on 16 June.
England also have two warm-up friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 3 June, and Iceland on 7 June – that latter date the final day for Southgate to submit his squad to Uefa.
First, though, Southgate will name a provisional “training” squad on Tuesday 21 May, in which Saka will almost certainly feature.
It will though give Southgate cause for concern, especially with captain Harry Kane’s ongoing back problem resulting in him missing Bayern Munich’s final game of the season.
How England could line up without Saka
In preparation for such possibilities, i’s James Gray pondered the prospect of an England side without Saka back in March.
Then, it was Anthony Gordon who got the nod to start up front alongside Kane and Phil Foden.
Gordon remains likely to make England’s squad for Euro 2024, and could face competition for this spot in the form of West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen.
Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford could also make a case to start, although they are not guaranteed to make the final cut, likewise Jadon Sancho, who is playing his way back into contention.
