Arsenal star addresses transfer rumours as Bukayo Saka spot threatened | Football | Sport

Arsenal sauntered into the international break sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League. However, the pause in club football doesn’t mean there’s a dearth of news surrounding Mikel Arteta‘s squad.

This comes after Leandro Trossard recently revealed his close brush with an exit and how near he was to departing in the summer. Meanwhile, one of Arteta’s England call-ups has been informed he nearly missed out on selection following Thomas Tuchel‘s recent comments. Regarding the new recruits, one of Arteta’s summer signings has been lauded as having the most significant impact of any European transfer this summer. And Express Sport provides a rundown of the latest events around the Emirates Stadium today.

Saka nearly missed England recall

A return to fitness at club level predictably led to Bukayo Saka being brought back into Tuchel’s England squad last week. The 24-year-old has netted twice in five matches since returning to Arteta’s starting XI, but his international comeback wasn’t guaranteed, according to Tuchel.

This comes after the Three Lions boss wanted to stick to his philosophy that players demonstrating excellent form for England deserve recognition. Following the impressive displays from the likes of Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford during the previous international break, which included a 5-0 victory over Serbia and a 2-0 triumph against Andorra, Tuchel was reluctant to make significant alterations.

And that nearly resulted in Saka facing a more prolonged absence from England duty following his hamstring problem. Nevertheless, summer acquisition Madueke being sidelined for the foreseeable future created a vacancy in the squad requiring a natural replacement.

“I didn’t want to leave anyone out who was in the last camp,” Tuchel told reporters. “What would be my explanation to leave them out and also be authentic in my words? After the Serbia match, I went into the dressing room and I told them what I told you.

“Imagine I have a phone call this time and leave four players out, and say, ‘Now I take A,B,C and D, and not you’ – what would you think as a player?’Didn’t you tell me that was exactly how you wanted it, and now I’m out?’ Would you not think that? I think, as a player you would.”

Saka’s inclusion was aided by Madueke sustaining an injury and being unavailable for the most recent England squad. Had Saka’s club colleague been available, he might not have secured his place.

“I’m saying there’s a chance,” added Tuchel when questioned whether Madueke’s presence would have prevented Saka’s recall. “It’s very likely I wouldn’t have [picked him], but you will never know now.”

Arsenal star dismisses transfer speculation

In the midst of the flurry of summer activity around north London, Trossard was one of those rumoured to be leaving Arsenal. However, the Belgian decided to stay and fight for his place, even signing a new contract with improved pay terms in August.

Arteta was quickly rewarded for his faith in the former Brighton star, who has contributed two goals and two assists in eight appearances this season. And after joining up with Belgium for the international break, he spoke candidly about his situation over the summer and whether he considered leaving.

“I’ve had some good weeks, both individually and with Arsenal,” he told Belgian media ahead of his nation’s World Cup qualifiers. “I’m finally a fit footballer again, a player in top form. ‘I’m very happy about that.”

Asked specifically about the rumours linking with the exit over the summer, Trossard added: “There are always rumours like that. Leaving was never really an option. I feel very good at Arsenal.

“At the beginning of the season I struggled a bit with an injury. I think those rumours were there because of the lack of minutes. I’ve been playing a lot the last few weeks, doing my thing, and I feel good about that.”

Arsenal recruit’s influence ‘the biggest in Europe’

Regarding Arsenal‘s summer recruits, Martin Zubimendi has been praised as the pick of the crop by a particular Gunners legend. And Martin Keown doesn’t merely think the Spaniard has made the greatest impact at Arsenal or across England, but throughout the entire continent.

After earning his Premier League Player of the Month nomination, £60million signing Zubimendi has been lavished with praise this week. Perhaps the most significant endorsement came from three-time Premier League winner Keown, who highlighted precisely what the former Real Sociedad star has brought to Arteta’s midfield.

“Across Europe, I don’t really see anybody that has come in and integrated so well, made such an impact,” he said during a recent appearance on talkSPORT. “The goals he scored [against Nottingham Forest], the header, but he makes everything tick.

“He came on at the weekend [against West Ham] and it was seamless when he came on. [Martin] Odegaard going off would have been an absolute disaster last season, but not this season.”