Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the thigh injury that Bukayo Saka took up in Sunday’s 3-0 victory against Sheffield United is “the last thing Arsenal need”.
Placed in the number ten role after the ankle injured both Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe out of the game, Saka managed the best part of 70 minutes before a challenge with Rhian Brewster forced him off the field and out on the side, where he was pictured with an ice pack strapped to the thigh.
Saka limped off with a thigh injury Pool / Getty Images
Arsenal have a tricky tie with Slavia Prague to look forward to in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday – hoping for a better result as a 1-1 draw from the first leg – and Arteta admitted he has no idea Saka will to be available for the game.
“I do not know yet,” Arteta said (via Sky Sports News) when asked about the severity of Saka’s injury. “He had to resign because he had discomfort in his thigh, which is the last thing we needed.
“We are missing some big players right now so the last thing we need is another. Hopefully it is not so serious.
“I do not know the extent of it. For Thursday, David [Luiz] will be out, Kieran [Tierney] comes out and then with Emile and Martin, we do not know yet. We will see how Bukayo develops in the next few days.
“I hope Pierre-Emerick [Aubameyang] may be back on Thursday – he was bad yesterday and could not train but hopefully the next day or two he can get better. “
With both Odegaard and Smith Rowe away, it was Willian who was placed as a provisional ten, and the Brazilian may be forced to keep that role against Slavia. Other options at Arteta’s disposal are Spanish midfielders Dani Ceballos and 18-year-old Miguel Azeez – the latter made his first Premier League squad on Sunday.
Viictory over Sheffield United leaves Arsenal ninth in the Premier League table, ten points behind the top four.
Arteta works with an impoverished group | TIM KEETON / Getty Images
Winning the Europa League seems to be the only way Arsenal reach the Champions League next season, so it’s not hard to understand why Arteta is worried about Saka’s possible absence for the match against Slavia.
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