Mikel Arteta has not categorically ruled Bukayo Saka out of Sunday’s crunch clash with Man City in the Premier League.
The 22 year old had to go off in the 33rd minute of the 2-1 defeat to Lens, with subsequent reports suggesting he had suffered a hamstring strain.
Speaking today at his pre-game press conference, the Arsenal boss was asked if, having been called up to the England squad, Saka was in contention for the City game.
“Well, he’s in contention,” said Arteta. “Let’s see how he progresses from here to Sunday.
“Obviously he had to leave the pitch, that’s never good news, but let’s see how he recovers.”
Despite some efforts to understand the kind of injury Saka is dealing with, the manager batted those questions away, saying he leaves the details to the doctors. Let’s wait and see, we’ll find out more on Sunday.
Meanwhile, after Thomas Partey returned to training and the squad for the Champions League game, Arteta is happy with the fact the Ghana international is back in the fold when the expectation was he could be out for quite a bit longer.
“He’s ahead of schedule, that’s for sure,” he said. “We wanted to have him in the squad, if we needed to the way the game was planned.
“We had other the necessities and we didn’t use him. So it’s good, he will be in the squad.”
Saka’s leg falls off after a bad tackle.
Arteta – “‘Tis but a scratch”
It’s a flesh wound!
Walk it off, Bukayo 🙂
Mark my words this could be another “Wilshere” in the making. I hope I am wrong 😑
Just keep it simple and protect Saka! Use him as a supersub in the 2nd half.
If we start saka Jesus martinelli front three I believe we have a great chance to take 3 points with them missing Rodri and dybryne. If if it’s nketia viera and havertz starting with Jesus shunted out to left to accommodate nketia we may get a football lesson
Martinelli is almost definitely out, as far as I can tell he hasnt even trained. Id rather we get a football lesson once than lose two of our best players to long term injuries and lose the whole season. We can beat them at home without them, and then we can beat City at the Etihad too when they come back. Patience is a virtue.
Ah, then
trossard jesus saka
Odegarrd
Rice. Partey
Zinc Gabriel saliba white
Keeper
This team beats em
Zinc worries me a bit against a top opponent like this. Even lesser teams seem to be targeting him these days. Not great 1/1, leaves space, lacks speed and sometimes totally disorientated when running back to our box. No way Pep and his boys wouldn’t have done their homework on him
Agreed. I don’t like his roaming brief against better opposition and his form isn’t good right now. Maybe he is still carrying a knock, but I’d prefer Tomi at left back and a Party/Rice double pivot.
Nelli will be out,
we can beat them at home even without Saka, with Jesus up front,
if we show respect and play
our settled back 4,
with two holding midfielders (rice and TP5, if fit),
odegard, with two (from nelson trossard, vieira, havertz, esr)
jesus
Doesnt seem like Arteta will trust ESR to start (though that’d be my preference as I think he’s the only one we have left who can actually take players on). Reckon we’ll see Tross and Vieira on the wings, though I’m hoping Tross on the right and Vieira on the left rather than the other way around as Vieira has been dangerous on the left and absoultely useless on the right.
Woah Nelli!
Good news, everyone! If you’re reading this, you’re also in contention for the citeh game!
He’s in contention, you’re in contention, I’m in contention, everyone is in contention!
Imagine Pep’s face of terror when he sees Andrew as right back lol
“Tío, saca Ake y ponme Rodri allí hueputa!”
“Joder que hago, ese tio irlandes se inverte mejor que cualquier otro defensa que he visto!”
My distribution might be on par with turner’s, but I can save penalties better than cech.
I can see Arteta like David Brent on The Office…’you’re in contention’, ‘you’re in contention’, ‘you’re in contention’…..gets to KT…silence…next player….’you’re in contention’….
(and yes, I know he’s on loan!)
But David Brent manages celtic.
Whether starboy is fit to play or not, let’s just find a way to vanquish those those sky-blue gremlins! COYG!
What about Martinelli, no update on him?
He’s doing his rehabilitation from contention.
Arteta’s typical say left and going right. This man is taking unpredictability to a whole new level.
Yes, he really doesn’t like to give anything away. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Saka starts.
I’d be surprised if he didn’t start.
I think Saka won’t be available this time, when we all thought he would be out of last weeks game, Mikel didn’t mention about Saka being in contention, this time it feels like he’s hinting he may be available as an early mind game with Pep but I fear he wont be, fingers crossed I’m wrong. I’ve left him in my FPL too 😀
Please don’t start Nketiah
One match a season does not make. I’d rather we exercise caution with any eye towards the greater cause. Give it a go. Don’t get walloped. Don’t risk the war for Sunday’s battle.
We’ve got the quality to compete without Saka. The way I see it, if we don’t win without Starboy and Gabi, we’ve got loads of excuses, including the absence of the two most terrifying wingers in the league from our XI. Reiss should also be plenty hungry.
Besides, if he plays for us, Saka will almost certainly play for England…and no one needs that.
Glad to hear he is not seriously hurt, but do worry about him playing on Sunday for the long term. Obviously it would be a huge boost if he could play, but worry about his recent number of knocks and the cumulative impact on him they’ve had.
One player we are really missing is Martinelli. He can’t get back soon enough.
I’d go Havertz cf, Jesus right wing and bring Partey into the midfield, with rice ahead slightly. Havertz was good up top in the community shield and can put himself about against their big lads at the back.
For me Ramsdale over Raya, White, Tomyasu over Zinchenko at left back, Saliba & Gabriel, Rice & Zinchenko (if Partey is not 100%, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard and Gabriel.