Bukayo Saka’s Arsenal vs Manchester City fate hinted as reason for England exit specified

Bukayo Saka has been withdrawn from the England squad ahead of Manchester City’s crucial Premier League showdown with Arsenal at the end of the month.

The Arsenal winger was called up to Gareth Southgate’s initial 25-man squad last week but will now return to London for the remainder of the international break as the Premier League clash with Pep Guardiola’s side looms on the horizon.

“Bukayo Saka has left the England camp and returned to his club for continued rehabilitation,” an England statement read on Thursday evening. “The Arsenal forward reported to St. George’s Park with an injury and has been unable to participate in training.”

Manchester City will head into the crunch Premier League showdown one point behind Bukayo Saka’s side having bested the Emirates Stadium outfit in the final weeks of the Premier League title race last season.

And while the Gunners defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the reverse fixture at the Emirates earlier in the ongoing season, losing Saka would be a huge blow to their chances of doing an unlikely double over the Treble winners.

According to football insider Con Harrison, ‘sources close to’ Bukayo Saka have now revealed that his removal from the England national team squad was only a ‘precaution’ for ‘muscle tightness’ that the winger was feeling.

The reports indicated that Bukayo Saka ‘should be fine’, but will be monitored over the coming days as he makes a return to the Arsenal training ground for further evaluation and assessment ahead of a crunch period of matches.

City have experienced injury issues of their own as of late, with Erling Haaland spotted limping during Norway training, though the team doctor ensured local media that the striker was doing fine, before further confirmation from the player himself.

Meanwhile, Jack Grealish is reportedly on the mend from another muscular injury, re-joining Manchester City training this week. Pep Guardiola recently revealed that he could be involved in the Arsenal clash at the end of the month.