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Arteta delivers concerning Bukayo Saka injury update

By on October 4, 2023

Bukayo-Saka-arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has delivered a concerning update about Bukayo Saka’s injury after a disappointing 2-1 defeat against RC Lens in the Champions League.

The 22-year-old was struggling with an injury problem that he sustained during the high-voltage North London Derby versus Tottenham Hotspur.

As a consequence of that injury, the winger was in doubt to play over the last couple of games, but Arteta opted to start him, nevertheless. Saka lasted until 75th-minute against Bournemouth last weekend but, the winger was forced to take off before the first half versus Lens last night.

During the post-match press conference (via Football London), Arteta said that it wasn’t a contact injury as he tried to backheel the ball and felt something. He didn’t feel comfortable continuing so the youngster was substituted and ‘it doesn’t look good’. Therefore, it seems this isn’t the recurrence of the issue that he was carrying.

Fresh injury blow

Arteta said:

“It wasn’t an action, it was a back heel and he felt something and he wasn’t comfortable to continue. It doesn’t look good.”

The Gunners boss has confirmed that it is a muscular issue so it seems likely that the winger will have to sit out on the sideline during the weekend’s crucial encounter against Manchester City in the Premier League.

Given Saka was struggling with an injury, it was thought that Arteta might opt to give him rest in midweek’s game ahead of the City clash. But, the Gunners boss took the risk and it seems that gamble hasn’t paid off as Arsenal lost the game against Lens and Saka is now at risk of remaining sidelined on Sunday.

So, it is going to be interesting to see whether Saka can eventually manage to recover in time to feature against Man City next weekend. If that doesn’t happen then it remains to be seen who Arteta deploys on the right flank to fill Saka’s void.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s defeat was Arsenal’s first of the season and it came at a very bad time. Nevertheless, the North Londoners will be hoping that Arsenal will be able to bounce back immediately and enter the international break by beating the Citizens and placing themselves at the summit of the league.