Arsenal goalkeeper Bukayo Saka has been sidelined with injury in recent weeks and his fitness ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City remains a question mark.
Bukayo Saka hopes to return to Arsenal soon
Bukayo Saka faces an uphill battle in the race to prove his fitness in time for Arsenal’s big trip to Manchester City in the Premier League.
The England international is currently sidelined with an Achilles tendon problem and has not featured for the Gunners since their 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to City on March 22.
It is understood that Saka is doing everything he can to get back on the pitch as soon as possible, but the problem, believed to be Achilles tendonitis, is delicate and Arsenal risk losing Saka for the rest of the season if his recovery is rushed.
The 24-year-old was at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, hugging pitchside with his team-mates as they qualified for the Champions League semi-finals.
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He has not yet been ruled out for this weekend, but will need to progress and return to training in the coming days to have a chance of playing.
Mikel Arteta said on Tuesday: “It’s something he’s had for a while. It was an Achilles problem. It’s a progression, but I hope it’s a matter of days rather than weeks. But he has to figure out when the load is going to be high and how he reacts to that kind of progression.”
Saka’s substitute Noni Maduke was also forced off in the second half of the game against Sporting CP with a knee problem, but there was some cautious optimism as the 24-year-old avoided injury by not going down the tunnel for treatment and later completed a lap of thanks from his team.
Meanwhile, sources close to left-back Riccardo Calafioli have suggested that he could return against City following his recent injury.
Bukayo Saka has not played for Arsenal since the Carabao Cup final
Calafioli was in a cheerful mood at the Emirates last night, where he was spotted dancing near the players’ lounge after the 0-0 draw with troubled Sporting CP in the first leg.
Julian Timber was also in attendance, admitting he was “recovering” as he walked through the mixed zone after last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth.
Timber declined to say when he would be able to return from the groin injury sustained in the 2-0 home win against Everton on March 14.
Asked if he would be available for the game against City, he answered shyly: “I can’t say. But we’ll see.”
Captain Martin Odegaard admitted in Arsenal’s program notes that he tweaked his knee during last week’s 1-0 win over Sporting in Lisbon. The Norwegian revealed that he is trying to return as soon as possible.
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Arsenal have progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and will play the second leg against Sporting CP on April 15th. Fans can watch the game on TNT Sports via HBO Max or the TNT Sports Channel on Prime Video.
