Arsenal receives good news ahead of the Chelsea rematch

Arsenal is relieved as Bukayo Saka has no serious injury after the warm-up incident before the Leeds match; coach Arteta remains uncertain if the English star will be ready to face Chelsea.

Arsenal has just gained an important boost in squad strength with Bukayo Saka confirmed to have no serious injury following the incident during the warm-up before the recent match against Leeds United.

The English winger had to withdraw just before kickoff at Elland Road, causing him to miss the 4-0 thrashing victory for the Gunners. At that time, coach Mikel Arteta described Saka’s condition as “a minor issue,” but still left room for the possibility of a more serious injury than expected.

However, the latest test results have brought positive signals for Arsenal. Scans showed Saka does not have a long-term injury, and the medical team believes the 2001-born player could return to play soon.

Speaking at Monday’s press conference, coach Arteta confirmed that Saka’s condition is improving well and did not rule out the possibility of him featuring in the second leg of the English League Cup semi-final against Chelsea. “We still have to wait. Today he is feeling better, but we need to observe how his body reacts before making a final decision. This is not a very serious injury,” Arteta said.

Nevertheless, Saka is still listed as “doubtful” for the upcoming Chelsea match. Arsenal’s coaching staff is cautious, especially considering the player had to miss three matches earlier this season due to a hamstring injury.

Since then, Arsenal has carefully managed Saka’s fitness. From being almost irreplaceable, the English international has often been rested on the bench in Premier League games against Brentford, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth to prevent overload.

While Saka receives good news, Arsenal faces a major setback with Mikel Merino. The Spanish midfielder will be sidelined long-term after tests confirmed he needs surgery for a foot injury. Arteta admitted this is a rare injury case requiring close monitoring of the recovery process.

At this crucial stage of the season, Saka avoiding a serious injury is a big boost for Arsenal, as they still need to compete on multiple fronts and especially rely on key attacking players for important upcoming matches.