West Ham United may have a glimmer of hope heading into Sunday’s clash with Champions League finalists Arsenal.
Because Bukayo Saka, who scored the only goal of the semi-final second-leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, netted the winner despite playing through the pain barrier.
Does this mean Mikel Arteta will rest the England international during their trip to West Ham United? With the Premier League title on the line, perhaps not.
If we are to get a RESULT vs Arsenal, how do you think we’d do it? 🧐
Then again, a more serious reoccurrence of the Achilles issue which kept him out against both Bournemouth and Manchester City last month would risk ending Saka’s season prematurely with not one but two trophies on the line.
A dilemma, certainly.
Bukayo Saka may be rested when Arsenal face West Ham United
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry expects a ‘difficult’ test at the London Stadium. Seldom has a match meant more for both sides.
Speaking on CBS Sports, Henry also lifted the lid on Saka’s fitness concerns. After starting only two of the last nine games in all competitions – and going off before the hour mark in both – it would not be a massive surprise if Arteta was to use Noni Madueke from the start on Sunday.
“[Saka] been questioned all season,” says Henry. “Can he be the guy? Is he not the guy? Is he the star boy? Is he not the star boy? Is he better than him or not better than him?
“[Against Atletico Madrid] he had to play while barely training. I know he’s suffering with his Achilles tendon.
“He came back, I spoke to him and he came back and was like; ‘I’ve got to be on the pitch. I’ve got to be on the pitch against Fulham. I have to be. It’s do or die’.
“So you have to give those guys a lot of credit. Sometimes we take it for granted. We all played through injuries. We all played with moments where you’re not 100 per cent and he had to do it, deliver it for Arsenal.”
Imaging you’re in Nuno’s shoes; Who are you bringing in to face Arsenal? 👞
Noni Madueke may start up against El Hadji Malick Diouf
After the trip to West Ham, Arsenal will round out the Premier League season against Burnley and Crystal Palace before facing either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in Hungary’s Puskas Arena.
Considering that Saka is ‘barely training, playing through the pain, and seemingly fit enough for only around an hour’s worth of football, it would be a surprise if Arteta planned to start his number seven in every one of those four remaining fixtures.
El Hadji Malick Diouf endured a miserable afternoon against Brentford last time out. The prospect of West Ham’s young left-back facing a fully-fit Saka is a fearsome one, certainly.
West Ham, and Diouf, might potentially instead be facing the tough but less-intimidating prospect of Madueke instead.
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