Bukayo Saka want to return to action 'as soon as possible' as Mikel Arteta gears Arsenal up for a Premier League title race run-in
17:31, 03 Feb 2026
Bukayo Saka arrives with the team ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on January 31, 2026
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Bukayo Saka suffered a knock in the warm-up to Arsenal's clash against Leeds United(Image: Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka could return from the treatment room just in time for the North London Derby. The 24-year-old winger suffered an injury in the build-up to Arsenal's 4-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.
Saka appeared to sustain a hip problem during the pre-match warm-up and was quickly replaced by Noni Madueke in the starting lineup, with Christian Norgaard taking a place on the bench. The England international was pulled from the rondo and escorted down the tunnel by a physio.
According to The Sun, Saka is aiming to return to action ahead of the North London Derby on February 22. The report claims that the Hale End graduate, who wasn't spotted in training ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea, could even beat that deadline if his rehabilitation goes well.
It's said that he's 'hungry' to get back on the pitch 'as soon as possible'. Should he return for the north London derby, it means he will miss the next four matches - the clash with Chelsea on Tuesday night, Premier League games with Sunderland and Brentford, plus the FA Cup fourth-round clash with Wigan.
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Speaking to reporters following the victory against Leeds, Mikel Arteta confirmed that Saka had a 'little niggle'. The Spaniard said: "In the warm-up, he had a little niggle, he wasn't comfortable starting the game, so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in.
"And he was ready, because you cannot do that in two minutes. The way he prepared, the way he's waiting for opportunity, I think it paid off today because he really impacted the team."
A few days later, ahead of the Carabao Cup tie against Chelsea, Arteta kept his cards close to his chest. The Arsenal boss said: "We have to wait. Today, he was better, but we have to wait and see how he responds, and then make the decision."
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on January 19, 2026 in London Colney, England
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Bukayo Saka during Arsenal training at the Sobha Realty Centre(Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arteta added: "It doesn't look like something too serious. Whether he's going to be available for tomorrow or the weekend, we'll see."
Arsenal will lock horns with the Lilywhites at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later this month in what could be a season-defining clash for both. The Gunners enjoyed a 4-1 win at the Emirates Stadium back in November to restore their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Tottenham dropped out of the top five and have since languished in the bottom half of the table. Manchester City have narrowed Arsenal's lead in the title race to five points, so Arteta will be determined to lay down a marker.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal warms up with teammates
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Bukayo Saka of Arsenal warms up with teammates prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
With Saka potentially back in the starting lineup, the Arsenal squad would be full of confidence. The Gunners boss was recently asked about the possibility of winning the treble this season.
He said: "Well I think we go day by day, competition by competition and tomorrow we have a really tough game against a very good Chelsea side. We have the home advantage, we have a good result, but we have still a lot, a lot to do tomorrow to end the right to win the final."
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Arteta added: "There's no point talking about it [with the players]. All we can talk and control is what we do daily to sustain the level that we have or to improve it I think."
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