Why isn’t Bukayo Saka playing for Arsenal against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup today?

Arsenal are looking to win their first major silverware since the 2019/20 FA Cup this season and have given themselves a more than realistic opportunity to lift the Carabao Cup (also known as the EFL Cup or the League Cup), in which they face Newcastle United in the first leg of the semifinals on Tuesday (January 7). Their hopes of winning, however, are dented by the absence of star attacker Bukayo Saka.

What injury does Bukayo Saka have?

Saka was forced off midway through the first half of the 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace on December 21, with The Gunners later revealing the winger had suffered a serious hamstring injury. The 23-year-old had surgery just before New Year with coach Mikel Arteta revealing he expects Saka to be absent for “many, many weeks”.

Without the winger, Arsenal followed up their victory against Palace with a 1-0 home triumph against Ipswich Town on December 27, a 3-1 win away to Brentford on January 1 and a 1-1 draw at Brighton on January 4.

Which Arsenal games could Saka miss?

The North Londoners have an FA Cup tie against Manchester United (January 12), Champions League games against Dinamo Zagreb (January 22) and Girona (January 29), and Premier League fixtures against Tottenham (January 15), Aston Villa (January 18) and Manchester City (February 2) on the horizon. They then complete their a two-legged Carabao Cup semifinal against Newcastle on February 5.

The other semifinal sees Tottenham Hotspur take on Liverpool (January 8 and February 6), with Spurs at home in the first leg.

Since the start of the 2021/22 season, Saka has scored 56 goals in 162 games in all competitions for the North Londoners and has netted five goals and assisted another 10 in 16 Premier League appearances this season.

Why isn’t Bruno Guimarães playing for Newcastle against Arsenal?

Newcastle, it should be noted, will also be missing one of their key players. Midfielder Bruno Guimarães is unavailable to play against The Gunners due to suspension, having been shown a yellow card in two of the four previous rounds in this year’s competition.

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