- Mikel Arteta believes that a holiday will make Bukayo Saka ‘really better’
- The Gunners star is expected to be out with a hamstring injury until March
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Are Everton where they deserve to be or are the club’s fans delusional?
Mikel Arteta has pleaded with Bukayo Saka to take a rare holiday while he recovers from a hamstring injury, saying it could make him ‘really better’.
The winger left Selhurst Park on crutches after the Gunners’ 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on December 21, having injured his right hamstring 22 minutes into the match.
He underwent surgery the following week and is not expected to be back until late February at the very earliest, a March return the more likely.
Saka has been a mainstay of Arsenal’s team for some time – over the past three seasons, the England man has missed just 10 out of Arsenal’s 172 matches in all competitions.
But now, Arteta believes Saka is in need of a holiday.
Ahead of Arsenal’s match against Aston Villa today, Arteta said: ‘Yeah, he needs to (go on holiday). He is obligated to go. With his girlfriend or his family, he can choose. Or on his own.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted that Bukayo Saka needs to take a holiday for a few days
The winger suffered a hamstring injury last month and is expected to be sidelined until March
The Gunners have won three in six since Saka’s injury, with two draws and a loss as well
‘But he needs to get away for a few days and refresh.
‘He can still do a lot of things with his rehab because it is the perfect stage. I think it will make him really better.’
He added: ‘He (Saka) has been every single day there (with the club). There is a moment, especially when we are going to be away for a few days, that he needs to do that. That is very important for him as well. We need to look after our players.’
