Les Ferdinand makes bizarre claim about Bukayo Saka injury at Arsenal

Former Tottenham star Les Ferdinand has bizarrely claimed that it is the ‘perfect time’ for Bukayo Saka to suffer an injury at Arsenal.

Saka was spotted leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after picking up a hamstring problem in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Given his importance to the Gunners – with Saka registering 15 goal involvements in 16 Premier League games this term – Mikel Arteta would wish for the Englishman to be fit and firing at all times.

But Ferdinand feels the timing of Saka’s injury is ideal as it allows him to rest over the festive period before the second half of the season begins.

‘If there was a perfect time to get injured, it would be now,’ Ferdinand told Sky Sports about Saka’s latest setback.

‘If he was going to be out for any spell, it would be over this Christmas period.’

Arsenal face Ipswich Town, Brentford in Brighton in their next three Premier League games before an FA Cup clash with Manchester United.

After that, Arsenal are set for a north London derby showdown against Tottenham and then host Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at the Emirates.

‘You look at the games that they’ve got coming up, no Champions League, [it] gives [Saka] a bit of time to rest,’ Ferdinand added.

‘We talk about players playing loads of games, I think he hasn’t had a period where he’s been out for any length of time.

‘I think if he’s out for a bit of time now, it’ll put them in good stead when it kicks in around January, February time.’

Meanwhile, Premier League legend Dwight Yorke has explained how Arsenal superstar Saka can evolve from a winger into a central striker once he returns from injury.

‘I do believe Saka’s got the potential to play as a striker,’ Yorke told sportslens.com.

‘The reason I say that, is because I started off as a winger. A lot of the great strikers started their careers in the wide areas, Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo would be the best examples.

‘Playing on the wing is a great place to develop some of the skills that all deadly strikers possess. The ability to beat players with skill, close control, pace – going either way.

‘Thierry, Ronnie, myself, we all started out there and worked our way in. I could see something similar like that happening to him eventually. Saka will probably do another year, maybe 18 months on the right, and then he’ll find his way in there.’