Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta supports Bukayo Saka in response to Harry Kane’s criticism regarding his withdrawal from the England squad.

**Arteta Backs Saka as Arsenal Eye Premier League Title Race Revival**

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has come out in strong support of Bukayo Saka, following comments from England captain Harry Kane regarding the recent spate of player withdrawals from international duty. Kane expressed disappointment over the number of players who opted out of the UEFA Nations League fixtures, suggesting they had taken advantage of a challenging period in the season.

Saka was among nine players sidelined due to injury, but he made a triumphant return to action on Saturday, netting the opener in Arsenal’s convincing 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. This win marked a much-needed turnaround for the Gunners, ending a frustrating four-match winless streak in the Premier League.

In the post-match press conference, Arteta was quick to defend Saka against any insinuations regarding the legitimacy of his injury. “Well, we can send an MRI scan, it’s very simple,” he stated. “That’s a communication that was very clear between the medical staff of Arsenal and the England national team. He hasn’t done anything; he was away and needed time to heal. He’s done one training session.”

The Spaniard expressed relief at witnessing a renewed spirit among his players, especially after a period where their title credentials had come under scrutiny. “I sensed a great energy in the last 48 hours,” Arteta remarked. “The way everybody came back, I sensed a great togetherness and desire to change the situation. It has been a different period for us with all the challenges we had to face.”

Arteta continued, highlighting the performance against Nottingham Forest: “The team was there straight away from the beginning. It was a flow, it was dominance, there was an enthusiasm about it. That is what I demanded.”

Looking ahead, Arsenal will be back in action on Tuesday as they face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+, and it will be the Portuguese side’s first European test without their new Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, at the helm.

As the Gunners aim to build on their recent success, all eyes will be on Arteta’s men to see if they can maintain their momentum in both domestic and European competitions.