How Bukayo Saka privately feels about his hamstring injury as ‘hope’ emerges over Arsenal return date

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Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for their upcoming trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

Premier League followers are in for a treat on matchday three, as Arsenal are involved in a blockbuster clash against early title rivals Liverpool. 

A huge three points are on the line so early into the season, with last season’s champions and runners-up going head to head.

Both Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot will be desperate to keep their unbeaten start to the season going, but both squads have problems to resolve before the whistle blows. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal have effectively conjured £216m out of thin air and there’s more to come

Bukayo Saka’s possible return date

Arsenal’s injury record over the 2024/25 season was terrible, with this term not starting as desired either. 

Saka is set to miss a month of action after sustaining a hamstring injury against Leeds United on matchday two. 

Arteta will need to figure out how best to replace the England international, with Noni Madueke the likely player to cover for the academy graduate on the right side.

Though there’s an idea that Saka will be out for three to four weeks, it’s now become clearer which game the Gunners provisionally expect to have their star boy back for.

Writing in his column for Caught Offside, journalist Charles Watts shared what he knows about when Arsenal ‘hope’ Saka will return. 

Watts noted that Saka could ‘maybe’ miss the Nottingham Forest clash after the international break, but shared that Arsenal ‘hope he will be close’ by that point.

Arsenal host Forest at the Emirates on September 13th and are eager to have the winger back around that time, particularly as an even bigger test comes the week after.

Watts reported that Saka possibly returning around the Forest game is seen as a ‘big boost’ for the Gunners, who then welcome Manchester City to N5 on the 21st September. 

Saka was ‘desperate’ to avoid a long spell on the sidelines

It’s not ideal not to have the winger for the trip to Anfield, but the timing of the international break is perfect for Arsenal. 

It could be that Saka only misses two games for Arsenal if he’s not fit to face Forest, with Liverpool the only guaranteed miss at present.

For the player, it’s a huge relief, as Watts claimed that both Arsenal and Saka see his lay-off as a ‘good outcome’.

Saka looked dejected when he went down clutching his hamstring after undergoing surgery on the opposite leg in December.

Watts reported that the winger got the ‘best case scenario’ from his injury, as hamstring blows can be so detrimental to a player’s career, with Saka understood to have been ‘desperate’ to avoid being ruled out for a longer period than he is.

For now, the 23-year-old will take his time on the road to recovery while those at Arsenal patiently wait for his return.