"I am happy that he is getting the accolades he deserves now" - Bukayo Saka heaps praise on Arsenal teammate
Arsenal have certainly picked up where they left off last season, as they remain one of only two unbeaten teams in the Premier League so far. At the core of their impressive performances is Bukayo Saka, who has significantly stepped up this campaign. However, the English forward reserved his praise for the Gunners’ defense, particularly for Jurrien Timber.
Timber joined Arsenal from Ajax last season for a reported fee of £38 million. Unfortunately, after making just one appearance against Manchester City in the Community Shield, the Dutchman suffered an ACL injury that sidelined him for most of the season.
Despite these setbacks, including missing the Euros for his country, the 23-year-old has made a strong start this season and has been a key part of Arsenal’s solid defense. His performances in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa and the 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur certainly earned him plenty of praise.
Saka, who has himself scored two goals and provided seven assists this season, spoke highly of Timber, expressing his delight that his teammate is finally receiving the recognition he deserves for his performances.
"He is a great player, I am happy that he can show it now. “With the ball, he is very calm and collected, and he has good self-confidence. He has always had his head in the right place, stayed humble and worked hard. I am happy that he is getting the accolades he deserves now," he said to CBS Sports (via Tribal Football).
The Dutch defender is currently sidelined again due to a muscle injury he sustained during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain during a Champions League clash. As a result, he missed the Gunners’ last match against Southampton and has also been ruled out of the Netherlands’ games against Hungary and Germany.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka suffers injury during England’s clash against Greece
Injuries continue to pile up for Arsenal, as Bukayo Saka was seen limping during England’s 1-2 defeat to Greece in their Nations League match on Thursday, October 10. Interim manager Lee Carsley substituted Saka in the 52nd minute, with Noni Madueke coming on in his place.
Saka may now potentially join a growing list of injured players, which includes captain Martin Odegaard, along with defenders Jurrien Timber, Ben White, and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Carsley provided an update on Saka’s injury, stating that he appeared to have injured his hamstring during the buildup to Greece’s first goal, scored by Vangelis Pavlidis.
“He’s being assessed. Obviously in the build-up to the first goal, you could see he felt something in his leg," he said after the game (via Now Arsenal).
Mikel Arteta will certainly be concerned about Saka’s fitness, as the winger has played in most of Arsenal and England’s matches this season. After the international break, the Gunners are set to face Bournemouth on October 19, followed by a Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk on October 22, and then a Premier League showdown with Liverpool on October 27.