Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shared a concerning update on the fitness of winger Bukayo Saka, stating that the star player “still isn’t feeling good.”
This news raises doubts about Saka’s availability for the crucial Premier League match against Liverpool this Sunday.
Saka sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with England, which led to his absence during Arsenal’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth. Fans had hoped to see him return for the upcoming Champions League fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk, but he was not included in the squad.
As the Gunners prepare for their significant showdown against title rivals Liverpool, Arteta confirmed during an interview with Amazon Prime that Saka was unable to participate in training sessions as expected. “He still isn’t feeling good. It wasn’t good news,” Arteta said when asked about Saka’s status ahead of the match against Shakhtar.
When pressed for clarity on Saka’s potential return for the Liverpool clash, Arteta remained non-committal: “At the moment, I am not very helpful. Let’s see. We still have a few days.”
Saka’s absence would be a considerable setback for Arsenal, who are already missing influential center-back William Saliba, following his red card in the previous match. The 23-year-old winger has been a pivotal figure for Arsenal, contributing significantly with ten goal involvements across ten games this season.
Despite the mounting pressure and the significance of the upcoming Liverpool match, Arteta emphasized that his team is not looking ahead. “No eye! The focus is on today,” he remarked, stressing the importance of concentrating on their immediate challenge against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Currently, Arsenal sits in third place in the Premier League with 17 points from their first eight games. In contrast, Liverpool leads the table with 21 points, just ahead of second-placed Manchester City. The outcome of the Liverpool clash could be crucial in shaping the title race as both teams vie for supremacy in the league.