Mikel Arteta gives prickly six-word response to being questioned about Bukayo Saka pulling out of England duty after Arsenal winger starred in 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest: ‘We can send the MRI scan’

Mikel Arteta insisted that Bukayo Saka‘s recent thigh injury was real, telling a reporter that the club can show his MRI scan, after the Arsenal star pulled out of England’s Nations League squad two weeks ago.

Saka was pivotal in the Gunners’ inspiring 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, scoring once and providing an assist to Thomas Partey for their second goal.

The 23-year-old has now logged four goals and eight assists in 11 Premier League games this season – only Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah has more goal contributions (14). 

Saka was substituted in the 81st minute during Arsenal’s final game against Chelsea before the recent international break.

It is still only November but the winger has already missed more games this season for club and country (nine) than he has done in three other campaigns in his career.

Saka has a reputation for being physically robust – he has been one of the top 10 most fouled players in the Premier League for the last three seasons, yet has only missed five games for Arsenal in this time.

Mikel Arteta insisted that Bukayo Saka’s recent leg injury was genuine after being questioned

The 23-year-old scored and provided an assist in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest

This prompted a reporter to ask Arteta whether his star man’s withdrawal from the England squad was legitimate.

He began by referencing Harry Kane’s disappointment over nine England players dropping out of Lee Carsley’s final squad in the recent international break.

The Three Lions captain argued that one’s duty to their country is paramount and should take priority over any club commitment.

The reporter followed by asking the Arsenal manager if Saka was really injured, implying that the club may have asked him to fake an injury to save him from potentially suffering one while playing for his country.

‘We can send the MRI scan, very simple,’ Arteta retorted defensively.

‘But that’s a communication that was very clear between the medical staff of Arsenal and the national team.

‘He hasn’t done anything. He was away and he needed time to heal. He’s done one training session.’