Bukayo Saka not guaranteed Arsenal start on return from injury after Mikel Arteta promise

When Bukayo Saka suffered his latest hamstring injury on the second matchday of the Premier League season, you could hear the collective groan inside the Emirates Stadium. After his near-four month absence last season which put a terminal dent in the club’s title hopes, the familiar sight of the winger clutching the back of his upper leg is enough to make any Arsenal supporter fret.

Thankfully, the problem was nowhere near as severe as the previous issue. The prognosis was weeks rather than months, and Saka could yet be targeting the clash with Manchester City to make his way back.

That said, where before the pathway back into the side was considered straightforward for Saka to return, that is no longer the case. In Saka’s stead, Noni Madueke has stepped into the role and impressed at Anfield.

Thomas Tuchel has since trusted the winger to play on the right for England, starting their last two games; a 2-0 win over Andorra and a 5-0 victory away in Serbia.

Madueke’s cross forced an own goal from Christian Gonzalez to break the deadlock against Andorra. While the 23-year-old would then score his first goal in a Three Lions shirt away in Serbia.

Involved in the build-up too before chasing a flicked-on pass, he drove into the box and struck a left-footed shot into the back of the net. His raw pace has been something Arsenal have very much lacked and having several players now that possess it is a true asset.

Some might think that with Saka back, Madueke would move to the left, but that then begs another question. Eberechi Eze is in line to start his first game for Arsenal this weekend and could do so on the left.

If he makes the left flank his own and Madueke continues to impress down the right, could Saka be in trouble? The broad answer is: probably not.

Even with Madueke's current good form, some players like Saka will simply play when they’re fit because they possess world class quality. But the fact that this is a genuine question mark is a great credit to the Gunners’ squad building and investment.

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