Bukayo Saka and Mikel Arteta (Image: Getty Images)
Manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for Sunday’s title clash with Manchester City, but remains optimistic Noni Madueke will be fit enough to play. Saka has not featured for the Gunners since losing to Josep Guardiola’s side in the Carabao Cup final last month.
Despite joining the England squad last month, the winger left camp after just one day and subsequently missed three Arsenal games. Arteta confirmed his team will once again be without the 24-year-old for Sunday’s game at the Etihad.
Asked about Saka, the Gunners manager admitted: “Bukayo is unavailable, that’s for sure.” However, when it comes to Madueke, Arteta has provided a rather encouraging update.
Maduke required treatment midway through the second half of Arsenal’s Champions League draw against Sporting CP on Wednesday night.
Television cameras showed the winger limping off the pitch and being supported by Arsenal medical staff, and it quickly became clear that the winger was unable to continue.
Still, when asked for an update, Arteta said: “We have another training session tomorrow. He didn’t look too bad after the game and he’s a player who overcomes pain. But we’ll have to wait and see.”
Express sports on FB! Get all the best sports news and more on our Facebook page
Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafioli and Julian Timber have all been sidelined in recent weeks, and when asked about the trio, Arteta said: “Yeah, we’ll try again. Some of the players are pretty close, but the recovery time is short. We’ll try tomorrow.”
Odegaard provided an update on his fitness in a column in the club’s official program for the game against Sporting, saying: “Last week in Portugal I had to leave the game in the second half with some pain in my knee. That’s why I missed the weekend game.”
“I suffered a little bit against Sporting, but I hope it’s not too bad. It’s an important period of the season, the Premier League and the Champions League, so I want to be back as soon as possible.”
Josep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta battle for Premier League title (Image: Getty Images)
The Gunners hold a six-point advantage over their nearest challengers, but Guardiola’s side have a game in hand against Arteta’s side. Arsenal have struggled in recent weeks, losing the Carabao Cup final, being eliminated from the FA Cup and losing to Bournemouth in the league.
However, the win over Sporting on aggregate kept the Gunners’ ambitions of winning a European and domestic double. And City star Antoine Semenyo told Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, ahead of time: “We’ve been in good form in the last few games and are probably playing the best football we’ve played in the second half of the season.
“So I think it’s a good time to play them, it’s going to be interesting because where they’re down and we’re back up.
“Honestly, we were excited. I feel like we’re ready for Sunday’s game. It’s going to be a big game. Maybe to clinch the title? I don’t know.
“But it’s going to be a tough game, don’t get me wrong. They obviously lost to Bournemouth, but they’re still top of the table. We’re still chasing them, so we have to respect them in that way.”
