Mikel Arteta has admitted that Bukayo Saka wasn’t 100% fit going into ’s win over on Saturday, where the winger was subbed off with an injury.
Saka won and converted a penalty to help the Gunners’ defeat United 3-1 at the Emirates to boost their chances of qualifying for the , whilst practically ending the Red Devils’ own top four aspirations.
However, Saka was unable to complete the match, looking in serious pain when he was brought off just after Granit Xhaka had scored to seal the three points.
In the immediate aftermath of the game, Arteta told BT Sport: ‘We had four or five [players] with difficulties to make the team before.
‘He [Saka] was one, [Benjamin] White was one, Granit had an eye issue, Eddie [Nketiah] hasn’t played many minutes.
‘The boys are doing everything they can to be on the field and I feel lucky.’
Later on in his post-match press conference, the Arsenal manager provided more information on the 20-year-old and thankfully for Gunners supporters, Arteta believes it is not a serious injury.
‘Bukayo was struggling even to start the match, but he really wanted to do it.
‘He had a big knock the other night and at one stage today he was struggling so we’ll see how he is.’
Having played a starring role in the victory over United, as well as the 4-2 win at Chelsea on Tuesday, Arteta will be hoping Saka will be fit to start Arsenal’s next game against West Ham next Sunday.
The Gunners have moved up to fourth place in the Premier League, with just five games to go, however they could drop back to fifth, albeit only on goal difference, if Tottenham beat Brentford in Saturday’s evening kick-off.
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