Mikel Arteta Gives Update On Bukayo Saka Ahead Of Arsenal vs. City Clash

The visit of Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta and his boys to Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Tuesday night to take on Lens in their second UEFA Champions League group stage game ended in the worst possible way for the Premier League side.

Aside from losing their early one-goal lead and allowing Lens to win 2-1, Arsenal lost their key player, Bukayo Saka, days to one of their biggest Premier fixture this season which is against the major title contenders, Manchester City.

During the Champions League game, coach Mikel Arteta was forced to substitute Bukayo Saka for Fábio Vieira in the 34th minute as the youngster limped off when the scoreline was 1-1. In his absence, Lens had more room to dominate their visitors.

After the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Lens, Mikel Arteta confirmed that the fitness status of Saka “doesn’t look good.”

The Spanish tactician added: “He tried to backheel a ball in the first half. He felt something. It was muscular. He was uncomfortable and we had to take him off.”

“We don’t know anything more than that. It was big enough not to allow him to play the rest of the game and that is a worry for us.”

When asked if Saka would be available for the game against City, Arteta responded: “I haven’t a clue. I don’t know”.

So far this season, Saka has scored five goals and provided four assists in nine games in all competitions. Hence, it will be a blessing to Manchester City when they visit the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal without the Nigerian-born English winger at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 8.