Bukayo Saka is now a major doubt for Arsenal’s meeting with Manchester City on Sunday after being forced off with a muscular issue in Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat at RC Lens.
Saka started at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis and set up Gabriel Jesus for the opening goal but went down on 34 minutes. The 22-year-old limped off and was replaced by Fabio Vieira, with Lens scoring twice to turn the tide in his absence.
Despite carrying an injury concern, Saka has now started Arsenal’s last three games before being withdrawn. Arteta welcomes City and Pep Guardiola to the Emirates on Sunday and could be without his talisman.
“He tried to backheel a ball in the first half and felt something muscular,” Arteta said after the defeat. “He felt uncomfortable to carry on so we had to take him off.
“We don’t know anything more. It was big enough not to allow him to continue to play the game and that’s a worry for us.”
Pressed on whether Saka would be out for Sunday’s meeting with City, the Gunners boss added: “I have no clue.”
Saka is the latest in a string of injuries at Arsenal, with the winger one of several potential absentees for Sunday’s clash. Jurrien Timber will be unavailable after an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey are both recovering from muscular issues.
Arteta has faced criticism for continuing to start Saka despite those minor injuries showing signs of fatigue. But the Gunners boss insists this issue is not the result of over-playing.
