Bukayo Saka's Arsenal injury issue is perfect timing for clever Mikel Arteta transfer decision

Arsenal are facing a number of injury issues ahead of their Premier League return against Bournemouth, with worries over the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli among others

Arsenal are back in action in the Premier League this weekend after two long weeks away over the international break. The Gunners will be looking to maintain a title challenge when they head to Bournemouth on Saturday in the day's late kick-off, and will be hoping to put the pressure on Liverpool and Man City, who both play on Sunday.

The Gunners have been in good form since the start of the season, with draws following controversial red cards against both Brighton and Manchester City the only points dropped so far in the league. After a dominant win against Southampton during which they had to come from a goal down, Mikel Arteta will be hoping for a slightly more straightforward encounter against his good friend Andoni Iraola's side on Saturday.

However, there are already some injury issues cropping up for Arteta. In the clash against Southampton, Thomas Partey was forced to start at right-back with both Ben White and Jurrien Timber unavailable.

While Arteta will be hopeful that both defenders are back, there are also problems to solve at the other end of the pitch. In attack, there are doubts over the fitness of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli.

READ MORE: Saka and Martinelli out, Odegaard setback - Nightmare Arsenal squad scenario for Bournemouth

READ MORE: Three Arsenal players guaranteed to miss Bournemouth as Bukayo Saka decision 'confirmed'

Despite featuring for the full 90 minutes of the Gunners' win over Southampton, Havertz pulled out of international duty for Germany with a knee problem. While it's not thought to be serious, it is an issue that Arteta would be hoping to avoid.

Meanwhile, both Saka and Martinelli have picked up injury issues on international duty. Saka was forced off during England's shock 2-1 defeat at home to Greece, with the attacker not travelling for their second fixture of the week away to Finland. However, England interim boss Lee Carsley hinted that it was a tight call on whether he was available for the game, with the Three Lions erring on the side of caution.

Martinelli looks to have suffered a calf problem away with Brazil, with the club in contact with the national team's medical department over what is also thought to be a minor injury. But it's not ideal timing over any of them.

The Gunners face a big run of fixtures before the next international break in November, with Premier League games against Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea after the Bournemouth trip, as well as Champions League fixtures against Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter, plus a Carabao Cup clash against Preston. It will be a big test of Arsenal's strength in depth following a big recruitment drive over the last couple of transfer windows.

One area that was key for the Gunners to strengthen was that depth in attack, with Saka playing a huge amount of minutes over the last few years. Getting in a reliable replacement for the England star has been something that had evaded them. And now they will have to stress-test their forward line.

Raheem Sterling's arrival as a deadline day loanee could prove to be one of the most shrewd bits of business in the summer window for exactly times like these. While Saka may well be available for the game at Bournemouth, it's a decision they shouldn't need to make.

Games against Shakhtar and then Liverpool the following week will be a big strain on the Arsenal team, and with him already being a doubt for the Bournemouth clash it should be the ideal time to rest him and make sure he's back fully fit for the rest of the fixtures coming his way.

Granted, a lot will depend on the availability of Havertz and Martinelli. But after two weeks of training having not linked up with the England team, Sterling will likely be in a much better physical state to start, and there will be nothing like a bit of pressure to bring out a good performance in the 29-year-old.

Arsenal follow their clash against Liverpool with four away games on the bounce at Preston, Newcastle, Inter and Chelsea within 11 days. There will likely be plenty of rotation for the Carabao Cup clash, but for the first time in a long time they now have the depth where they can rotate some key players in bigger games; they must begin to do so.

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