Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Bukayo Saka’s injury is not serious and that the English winger will be fit for the World Cup tournament in Qatar next month. Saka was taken off injured during Arsenal’s 5-0 victory against Nottingham Forest.
The 21-year-old was in conspicuous discomfort compelling the manager to substitute him in the 27th minute. England will play Iran on their first match on November 21 with Gareth Southgate required to name the squad eight days earlier.
ADVERT
But Arteta was cautiously optimistic about the winger’s chances of a quick recovery with Arsenal travelling to Chelsea on Sunday for the London derby. Saka, the Guardian reports, will be assessed and the results of a scan are likely to be confirmed by midweek.
“Hopefully the injury is not serious. It was a bad kick right from the beginning and he was limping. But I didn’t see anything further than that so let’s see how he is in the next couple of days. I think he got kicked a few times,” Arteta said when asked if Saka would struggle to make it to the England squad.
Arsenal’s convincing victory against Nottingham Forest saw them return to the top of the Premier League and are two points ahead of defending champions Manchester City. Responding to Arsenals’ impressive response following the defeat against PSV in the Europa League last week, Arteta said: “Big teams have to respond and we did that after the disappointment of Thursday night. Not only physically and mentally, we had to be ready against a team that beat Liverpool.”
