LATEST NEWS: Mikel Arteta shares an update on Bukayo Saka that Arsenal fans were dreading following the victory over Spurs.
Following Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham, Mikel Arteta provided an update on Bukayo Saka’s condition, which may not sit well with Arsenal supporters.
In the fiercely contested north London derby, Arsenal secured an away win, with Gabriel Magalhaes scoring the decisive goal in the 68th minute. However, despite the victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, concerns quickly shifted to Saka’s fitness.
Saka was forced off the pitch after appearing to injure his thigh while chasing down a pass from Raheem Sterling, raising alarm bells for Arsenal fans. The injury required treatment, and he could not continue playing.
To compound Arsenal’s injury woes, captain Martin Odegaard is also sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury while representing Norway on international duty. Arteta admitted after the match that he was uncertain about the severity of Saka’s injury, expressing concerns about his condition.
“I’m not sure [about the extent],” Arteta explained. “He collapsed after we made two changes up front. I looked to the bench to see what options we had left, and we had to adjust.”
“I don’t know exactly what it is, but he couldn’t carry on,” Arteta added, leaving Saka’s status up in the air until Arsenal’s medical team can properly evaluate the situation.
If Saka’s injury turns out to be significant, it could cast a shadow over what was otherwise another stellar performance by Arsenal at Tottenham. Despite the setback, Arsenal remains unbeaten this season, with their only blemish being a 1-1 draw against Brighton the previous month.
Declan Rice was also absent for the Spurs clash due to suspension, having received a second yellow card in controversial fashion for delaying the restart in the Brighton match. Though his red card came from two yellows and thus couldn’t be overturned by the Premier League, the Key Match Incidents panel unanimously agreed that referee Kavanagh’s decision to send Rice off was justified.