Bukayo Saka has been ruled out of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City on Sunday, Mikel Arteta has confirmed.
The winger has been sidelined since the Carabao Cup final defeat to City on March 22 with an Achilles issue.
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Saka has missed the last four Arsenal games but has been struggling with the problem since November.
Earlier this week, Arteta told reporters he was hopeful the England international could return to action in ’days not weeks.’
However, he confirmed on Friday in his press conference that Saka would miss Sunday’s title showdown against rivals Manchester City.
“Bukayo is out, that is for sure,” Arteta said.
The Arsenal boss then confirmed that Arsenal’s aim was ‘to protect the player first of all and then to (help him to) perform as well as he possibly can’.
Pressed on whether Saka was training with the group, Arteta said: “He is just starting to do some stuff, so let’s see how quickly we can go through that progression and then wait but at the moment he’s not available.”
Saka’s stubborn Achilles issue could have implications for ahead of the World Cup.
The tournament kicks off in just 55 days and Saka will be keen to overcome the issue before Thomas Tuchel names his final squad in May.
eSPORTY’s Ben Jacobs weighed in on the Saka’s Achilles complain and the debilitating impact it has had on his performances this season.
“Saka has struggled with the Achilles issue persistently in a season of struggles for the England man, having been far from his best for most of the campaign.” Jacobs said.
Further headache for Arteta
There is further cause for concern for Arteta with Noni Madueke a doubt for the trip to the Etihad Stadium.
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Madueke was replaced in the second half of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final with Sporting and the Arsenal boss says he will make a late decision on the winger’s availability.
“We have another training session,” Arteta said. “It didn’t look that bad after the game. I am hopeful he can be available but we have to wait and see.”
Arteta’s injury concerns could see him turn to 16-year-old Max Dowman in what would be the biggest game of his career.
Defeat at the Etihad would hand the initiative to City who would close the gap on the Gunners to three points and with a game in hand.
With the pressure mounting to end the club’s 22-year title drought, Arteta says he’d have no qualms in throwing the teen sensation into the fire on Sunday.
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“He will be ready,” Arteta added. “You throw him in any context, you know what he is going to be delivering.”
