Arteta calls Bukayo Saka injury ‘not great news’ | OneFootball

Arsenal’s emphatic 5-0 win over Leeds at the Emirates was overshadowed by concern for Bukayo Saka, who was forced off with what appeared to be a ‘significant’ hamstring problem in the second half.

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Saka, who had already scored Arsenal’s second goal in first-half stoppage time, sat down shortly before an hour had gone. He immediately signalled to the bench and was replaced by Leandro Trossard, walking slowly from the pitch to a subdued reception.

The injury was all the more concerning given that his right hamstring kept him sidelined for months last season.

The England international’s importance to Mikel Arteta’s side is beyond dispute. Saka has been Arsenal’s most reliable forward for several seasons, but the recurrence of hamstring trouble now poses questions about his availability for the upcoming clash with Liverpool, and beyond.

After the game, Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports, “Bukayo had to come off. He was sprinting and wrestling with the defender, he felt something in his hamstring I think, so, it’s the other side, so not great news.”

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In his press conference, he added, “That’s the negatives of the day. Martin felt something in his shoulder when he landed. We don’t know, we’ll have to scan him tomorrow and understand a bit better. And Bukayo, while he was carrying the ball, wrestling with the defender, he felt something in his hamstring. Let’s see, I think it’s the other one, it’s not the same one as the previous injury. We’ve been two weeks and we’ve already lost Kai, Martin and Bukayo, so it tells you how well-equipped you have to be in this league to manage and to maintain the level that we want.”

Asked more specifically about the severity of Saka’s injury, he replied, “I don’t know, he felt something while he was sprinting. That’s never a good sign. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow, speak to the doctors and understand better what he’s done. But he’s had his injuries before, he knows exactly the feeling of that, so let’s wait.”

Saka’s withdrawal was not the only blow. Captain Martin Ødegaard was substituted in the first half after suffering a shoulder injury. The midfielder attempted to play on but lasted only 20 minutes before being replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.

Like Saka, he is now a doubt for the trip to Anfield.

Despite the clean sheet and clinical finishing, the mood at full-time was tempered by the sight of two of Arsenal’s most influential players leaving the pitch injured after already losing Kai Havertz to a knee injury this week.

Supporters have grown all too familiar with the club’s long-running battle against injuries, and the prospect of facing Liverpool without Ødegaard and Saka in addition to Havertz, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus, is one Arteta will not welcome. Luckily, the squad is much deeper this season after some great summer business.