2026-06-16 10:33:49

Bukayo Saka insists that he is “ready to go” for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia.

The Arsenal winger has been carrying an Achilles injury in recent months but insists that he is willing to gamble with his fitness in North America this summer, even though manager Thomas Tuchel intends to handle him with care.

Saka said: “I don’t want to say anything that goes against the manager.

“What I would say is that between Mikel [Arteta] and the Arsenal medical team and Thomas and the England medical team, since March they have managed me amazingly and helped me get back on the pitch and do what I can for the team.

“I’m feeling better than I have felt in the last few months and I’m ready to go.”

Saka was criticised for his performance in Arsenal’s Champions League final loss to PSG last month but is determined to take part in the biggest games even if he isn’t 100 per cent fit.

He said: “Yeah, but I think as players it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest. You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing that people are going to judge you the same.

“And at the end of the day people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform.

“I’m happy to take that gamble and it paid off I’d say, and I’m going to continue doing that – but like I said I’m feeling a lot better than I did in March and I’m ready to go, so I’m excited.”

Saka is competing with Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke for a spot in Tuchel’s XI but insists that the pair want the best for each other despite vying for minutes at both club and international level.

He said: “It’s quite unique, two players that play in the same position to be as close as we are.

“I don’t really know how it works, but it works. Noni is like my brother on and off the pitch. We push each other and we speak every day.

“We have that mutual respect for each other and we want each other to do well.

“The good thing is that we play on the same team and that if one of us is doing well it is good for the other.”

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