In a surprising turn of events, Bukayo Saka has been left out of the Arsenal squad for their Premier League clash against Luton Town at Emirates Stadium. This marks the first time the England international has been absent from the squad since October.

Speculation about Saka's availability for the game arose following his substitution in Sunday's 0-0 draw, where he appeared to pick up an injury. The young winger had also been withdrawn from England duty due to a hamstring problem. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had previously suggested that Saka might still be able to feature in the match.

Arteta provided an update on Saka's condition in his pre-match press conference, stating, "He's fine. We haven't trained, just recovered. We have a short light session today to prepare the game, and we'll see if he's in the best condition to start or not."

Despite participating in training at the Sobha Realty Centre and arriving with the squad at the Emirates Stadium, Saka ultimately did not pass a fitness test and was deemed unfit to participate in the game. Arsenal's decision to rest the young talent is a precautionary measure, as the issue is not believed to be serious.

Replacing Saka in the starting lineup for this crucial match is Reiss Nelson. This marks Nelson's first league start of the season and his first league appearance since July 2020.

In addition to Saka's absence, Arteta has made four other changes to the starting XI. Oleksandr Zinchenko has taken up the left-back position, Thomas Partey is making his first start since August, Emile Smith Rowe is making his first start in any competition since January, and Leandro Trossard comes in on the left wing.

With these changes, Arsenal is hoping to secure a victory against Luton Town and overcome their recent struggles. As for Bukayo Saka, fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on his recovery and future availability for upcoming matches.