Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill has provided an update on Bukayo Saka’s fitness ahead of Arsenal‘s clash against Manchester City on Sunday.
Saka could be seen limping off for the Gunners’ during after just half an hour of their Champions League defeat to Lens on Tuesday evening.
The 21-year-old set up Gabriel Jesus to score before being forced off with an injury and replaced by Fabio Vieira.
Lens would go on to win the game 2-1 courtesy of goals from Adrien Thomasson Elye Wahi, but it was the sight of Saka hobbling off the pitch that may have caused Mikel Arteta the greatest concern.
However, Cotterill has suggested the injury may not be as bad as it seems, claiming his departure could have been precautionary.
“I don’t want to give Arsenal and England fans false hope. But the feeling around here, and not at all official, is that Saka may not be too bad,” Cotterill said on the Sky Sports live match-blog. “Perhaps a muscle strain or maybe a precaution.”
Supporters will certainly hope that is the case as they prepare to host reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in a crunch match at the Emirates on Sunday.
When asked if he regretted picking Saka for the game against Lens following knocks against both Tottenham and Bournemouth, Arteta replied: “No. It was a knock that he had the other day and he was perfectly fine. It was a back-heel, an action that can produce that kind of injury.
“Let’s see what the extent of it is and afterwards it’s too late. The last few were more knocks than anything else.
“He tried to backheel a ball in the first half and felt something muscular. 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.
“He was really looking forward to playing like every player. It was a big Champions League night. I painted a picture and the type of scenario we were going to face today and they all knew about it.
“But this Champions League is so difficult to win away from home. Today we take a big lesson.”