Mikel Arteta issued an optimistic update on Bukayo Saka after the winger was forced off during Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday.
Saka opened the scoring as the Gunners put the Premier League leaders to the sword at the Emirates Stadium, but was substituted late on after receiving treatment for an injury. Arteta, however, did not seem concerned and does not expect to lose the England star for any significant length of time. The Spaniard was more concerned over an injury sustained by full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, who seemed to aggravate a pre-existing calf issue.
Speaking after the game, Arteta appeared optimistic about Saka, as he told reporters: “He should be fine. He got a kick I think on the ankle or on the back of his foot, but he should be fine.”
On Zinchenko, the Arsenal boss seemed a lot more uncertain. “With Alex (Zinchenko), we don’t know,” Arteta added. “He had this feeling in his calf again and we had to take him off.”
Arteta’s initial prognosis follows a familiar pattern for both players. Saka’s driving runs frequently see him pick up knocks but it’s very rarely anything that prevents the 22-year-old from lining up for his club.
Zinchenko, meanwhile, has encountered a number of issues since moving to north London from Manchester City, with three separate spells on the sidelines attributed to calf problems. Arteta will be hoping this latest issues is a minor one.
After Sunday’s big win, Arsenal’s calendar offers some respite with just one game a week to prepare for in the next fortnight. There’s a full six days for the bumps and bruises to heal before the Gunners make a short trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham next Sunday.
