<p>Bukayo Saka missed FPL Gameweek 8 through injury &#8211; but what is the latest on him, should he be sold and who are the best replacements?</p>
<p>In this article, we explore what&#8217;s been reported about Saka&#8217;s fitness and use Fantasy Football Hub <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/ai-team-rating">AI</a>, <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/tools">tools</a> and our expertise to advise on what to do with the Gunners&#8217; midfielder.</p>
<p>Saka last played for England during the international break, picking up a suspected hamstring injury against Greece on Thursday, October 10.</p>
<p>He withdrew from the squad, missing the Three Lions&#8217; second game, and was absent for the Arsenal v Bournemouth match in Gameweek 8.</p>
<p>Check out our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-predicted-lineups">team news and predicted lineups article</a> later this week for full updates from every club as managers&#8217; pre-match press conferences take place.</p>
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<h2>Saka injury: What&#8217;s the latest?</h2>
<p>Saka was left out of Arsenal&#8217;s squad for their Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday &#8211; the second club game he has missed in a row.</p>
<p>Speaking to Amazon before the game, manager Mikel Arteta said:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;He wasn&#8217;t able to do the session in the way that we wanted, he wasn&#8217;t still feeling good, so it wasn&#8217;t good news.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Asked by Lee Dixon if Saka would be ready for the Liverpool game on Sunday, Arteta added:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;At the moment I&#8217;m not very helpful but let&#8217;s see, we still have a few days to do that.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>There was some initial confusion over whether the Gunners&#8217; boss had said &#8216;hopeful&#8217; or &#8216;helpful&#8217; but judging by the <a href="https://x.com/primevideosport/status/1848792406369476845/video/1">video</a> &#8211; at about 50 seconds in &#8211; it was the latter.</p>
<p>Amazon also spoke to Arteta after the 1-0 victory and posed the Saka question again. This time Arteta said:</p>
<blockquote><p>“I don’t know [if he will be ready for Liverpool]. He wasn&#8217;t able to train yet so that&#8217;s unlikely.”</p></blockquote>
<div id="attachment_67836" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67836" class="size-full wp-image-67836" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FFStuffImage-2024-10-21T174625.549.jpg" alt="" width="798" height="650" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FFStuffImage-2024-10-21T174625.549.jpg 798w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FFStuffImage-2024-10-21T174625.549-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FFStuffImage-2024-10-21T174625.549-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FFStuffImage-2024-10-21T174625.549-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67836" class="wp-caption-text">Bukayo Saka&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></p></div>
<h2>Should Saka be sold in FPL?</h2>
<p>It&#8217;s worth remembering that the Spaniard has not always been reliable for team news.</p>
<p>And ahead of Gameweek 8, he said Saka was &#8216;evolving really well&#8217; and &#8216;had done a few things&#8217; since returning early from international duty.</p>
<p>Before the Champions League fixture, he told reporters his star man was &#8216;closer&#8217; to a return and &#8216;progressing well&#8217;.</p>
<p>Many FPL managers treat Arteta&#8217;s updates with a great deal of skepticism, however it seems Saka is at the very least a doubt for Gameweek 9.</p>
<p>We should get another update from Arteta&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-predicted-lineups">press conference</a> later this week.</p>
<p>But FPL fans are unlikely to have complete clarity, so will have to make a personal call on how likely they think Saka is to start.</p>
<p>As of Wednesday morning, nearly 300,000 managers had already decided to take him out of their teams.</p>
<p>Tough upcoming fixtures &#8211; Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A) and Chelsea (A) &#8211; may have made the decision easier.</p>
<div id="attachment_67906" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67906" class="size-large wp-image-67906" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Most-sold-ahead-of-GW9-1024x601.jpg" alt="Most sold players ahead of Gameweek 9" width="1024" height="601" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Most-sold-ahead-of-GW9-1024x601.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Most-sold-ahead-of-GW9-300x176.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Most-sold-ahead-of-GW9-768x451.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Most-sold-ahead-of-GW9-610x358.jpg 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Most-sold-ahead-of-GW9-1080x634.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Most-sold-ahead-of-GW9-1280x753.jpg 1280w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Most-sold-ahead-of-GW9.jpg 1282w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67906" class="wp-caption-text">Most sold players ahead of Gameweek 9</p></div>
<h2>Who are the best Saka replacements?</h2>
<h3>The shortlist</h3>
<p>The alternative premium midfielders to Saka are as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mohamed Salah (£12.6m)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cole Palmer (£10.8m)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Son Heung-min (£9.9m)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Phil Foden (£9.2m)</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Saka comes in at £10.0m after an overnight <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-price-rises">price drop</a>, so FPL managers will need cash in the bank or two transfers to be able to afford Salah or Palmer.</p>
<div id="attachment_67911" style="width: 907px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67911" class="size-full wp-image-67911" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FPL-premium-midfielders.jpg" alt="FPL premium midfielders" width="897" height="731" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FPL-premium-midfielders.jpg 897w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FPL-premium-midfielders-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FPL-premium-midfielders-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FPL-premium-midfielders-610x497.jpg 610w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67911" class="wp-caption-text">FPL premium midfielders</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Best premium midfielders: The fixtures</h3>
<p>FPL managers should always keep their future plans in mind when deciding their transfers for the week ahead.</p>
<p>While Arsenal&#8217;s fixtures are challenging for the next three gameweeks, thing improve from Gameweek 12.</p>
<p>Saka will soon be a consideration again, providing he is not ruled out long-term.</p>
<p>But those who swap him out for another premium might not want to reverse the move in Gameweek 12.</p>
<p>Palmer for example faces Leicester that week and Southampton in Gameweek 14.</p>
<p>Salah goes up against Southampton in Gameweek 12, although he then plays City and Newcastle.</p>
<p>It may be that FPL managers who are currently on a two-premium set-up including <strong>Erling Haaland (£15.4m) </strong>may find it easier to work their way towards a three premium squad around this time.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_67907" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67907" class="size-large wp-image-67907" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Premium-midfielders-fixtures-1024x195.jpg" alt="Premium midfielders' fixtures" width="1024" height="195" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Premium-midfielders-fixtures-1024x195.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Premium-midfielders-fixtures-300x57.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Premium-midfielders-fixtures-768x146.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Premium-midfielders-fixtures-610x116.jpg 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Premium-midfielders-fixtures-1080x205.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Premium-midfielders-fixtures.jpg 1479w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67907" class="wp-caption-text">Premium midfielders&#8217; fixtures</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Spurs have the pick of the next three games, with Ipswich at home in Gameweek 11 a standout fixture given the Tractor Boys&#8217; league-worst <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta">expected goals conceded</a> (xGC).</p>
<p>City&#8217;s Gameweek 9 match against Southampton is another appealing target before Bournemouth and Brighton away.</p>
<p>Liverpool&#8217;s next game against Arsenal makes Salah less enticing this week but the Egyptian then has back-to-back home games.</p>
<p>Palmer could exploit <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-gameweek-9-fixtures-analysis-teams-and-players-to-target">Newcastle&#8217;s weaknesses</a> in Gameweek 9 but Arsenal at home in Gameweek 11 is a tricky test.</p>
<p>The fixtures influence <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Hub AI&#8217;s points projections</a>, which we cover below.</p>
<div id="attachment_67909" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67909" class="size-large wp-image-67909" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fixture-run-for-next-three-1024x201.jpg" alt="Fixture runs between Gameweek 9 and 11" width="1024" height="201" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fixture-run-for-next-three-1024x201.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fixture-run-for-next-three-300x59.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fixture-run-for-next-three-768x151.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fixture-run-for-next-three-610x120.jpg 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fixture-run-for-next-three-1080x212.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fixture-run-for-next-three.jpg 1462w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67909" class="wp-caption-text">Fixture runs between Gameweek 9 and 11</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Premium midfielders: AI predicted points</h3>
<p>Hub AI takes a range of factors into account, including <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> and expected minutes.</p>
<p>It prefers Salah over the next three gameweeks but it&#8217;s a close call between him, Palmer and Son.</p>
<p>The trio make up the top three midfielders for predicted points overall and are beaten only by Haaland (24.1).</p>
<p>Foden is well off the pace with just 10.9 predicted points, with an average of 52 minutes per appearance expected.</p>
<p>The City midfielder was named on the bench in Gameweek 8 and has been limited to 191 league minutes.</p>
<p>The attraction of Southampton at home this weekend will however lead some to take a risk on last season&#8217;s 19 goal hero.</p>
<div id="attachment_67908" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67908" class="size-large wp-image-67908" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Best-midfielders-GW9-11-1024x601.jpg" alt="Best midfielders - predicted points between Gameweek 9 and 11" width="1024" height="601" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Best-midfielders-GW9-11-1024x601.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Best-midfielders-GW9-11-300x176.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Best-midfielders-GW9-11-768x451.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Best-midfielders-GW9-11-610x358.jpg 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Best-midfielders-GW9-11-1080x634.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Best-midfielders-GW9-11-1280x753.jpg 1280w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Best-midfielders-GW9-11.jpg 1282w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67908" class="wp-caption-text">Best midfielders &#8211; predicted points between Gameweek 9 and 11</p></div>
<h2></h2>
<p>The top three don&#8217;t change when looking over the next six gameweeks but Palmer is just 0.4 behind Salah.</p>
<p>The gap between Palmer and Son also widens, from 1.6 to 5.8.</p>
<p>Son may be a shorter-term pick as a result , while it&#8217;s important to note Palmer comes in at £1.8m cheaper than Salah.</p>
<p>This underlines the fact that the best Saka replacement is team dependent, although the predicted points should help FPL managers make an informed decision.</p>
<div id="attachment_67910" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67910" class="size-large wp-image-67910" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Predicted-points-midfielders-gw9-14-1024x601.jpg" alt="Midfielder predicted points between Gameweek 9 and 14" width="1024" height="601" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Predicted-points-midfielders-gw9-14-1024x601.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Predicted-points-midfielders-gw9-14-300x176.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Predicted-points-midfielders-gw9-14-768x451.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Predicted-points-midfielders-gw9-14-610x358.jpg 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Predicted-points-midfielders-gw9-14-1080x634.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Predicted-points-midfielders-gw9-14-1280x753.jpg 1280w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Predicted-points-midfielders-gw9-14.jpg 1282w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67910" class="wp-caption-text">Midfielder predicted points between Gameweek 9 and 14</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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