WILL BUKAYO SAKA MISS THE CHELSEA CLASH? ARSENAL FANS AWAIT URGENT MEDICAL TESTS
Arsenal overcome Bukayo Saka’s injury to beat Leeds 4-0. Mikel Arteta gives an update on the star's fitness and title hopes.
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal still don’t know how serious Bukayo Saka’s injury is after their win over Leeds.
Saka didn’t make it through the warm-up, even though he was named in the starting lineup on Saturday. He pulled up during training with the team, grabbed at his groin, and walked off the pitch with a physio at Elland Road. Arteta swapped him out for Noni Madueke, while Christian Norgaard moved onto the bench.
After Arsenal’s big 4-0 win, Arteta called Saka’s issue a “niggle” but admitted it’s all a bit up in the air. “We don’t know yet,” he told Match of the Day. “He had a little niggle in the warm-up.” Speaking to Sky Sports News, he added, “He wasn’t comfortable to start, so we made a quick decision. We’ll run some tests tomorrow and see how he is.”
Even without Saka, Arsenal looked sharp. Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, and Gabriel Jesus all found the net in Yorkshire, pushing Arsenal seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Madueke, who stepped in at the last minute, was happy with the team’s performance and didn’t let the sudden change bother him. “We’re professionals; we’re always ready,” he said. “I’m just glad we got the win. The supporters were brilliant—they travelled so far, and we heard them all game.”
He went on, “We’ve been fighting on all four fronts since the season started. Everyone’s ready when needed. Every few days, you have to be switched on and deliver. That’s just how it is.”
This win snapped Arsenal’s league drought in style. Declan Rice was buzzing about the result. “After the last three games, we knew how important today was,” he said. “Winning 4-0 is huge for us. We just have to keep doing our job, keep winning, and see where it takes us.”
He added, “We’re top of the Premier League, eight out of eight in the Champions League, so we can’t complain about where we are. We’ve got a great squad. Every game feels like a cup final now. There’s a long four months ahead, but we’re ready. Let’s keep pushing and see how far we can go.”
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
