Boost for Arteta: Arsenal Confident “Immense” Player Will Be Fit for Man City After Injury Scare
Arsenal have received a significant update regarding the fitness of star player Bukayo Saka, who was forced to leave the field due to injury during their 1-0 victory over Tottenham. This news comes just a week before their match against the reigning Premier League champions, Manchester City.
In their recent win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Arsenal secured their third consecutive victory over their north London rivals. This achievement marks the first time in 35 years that Arsenal have won three straight away games against Spurs.
A decisive header from centre-back Gabriel made the difference in the match. Gabriel managed to outmaneuver Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and scored from close range just after the hour mark. Tottenham offered little in terms of a counterattack.
The win propelled Arsenal to second place in the Premier League table, surpassing Liverpool, who suffered a surprising defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Only Newcastle can match Arsenal’s 10-point total after four games.
Manchester City, however, lead the table with a perfect 12 points. Erling Haaland’s nine goals surpass the total goals scored by any other team so far, with Chelsea in second place having scored eight goals this season.
Arsenal will face Manchester City next, with a crucial match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. This game will be a significant test, as Arsenal has the opportunity to set an early benchmark against Pep Guardiola’s team. The Gunners have now received a crucial boost ahead of this important fixture.
Saka Expected to be Fit for Arsenal vs. Man City Match
According to a report, Arsenal’s key player Saka might travel to the northwest. The winger had to be substituted by young Ethan Nwaneri during the final moments of the victory over Tottenham, which ended 1-0. When asked for an update after the match, Arteta offered no additional information.
“I don’t know. I made two changes with the front players and suddenly he’s down. I looked at the bench and the options that we had and we had to adapt. I don’t know exactly what it is but he could not continue”, the Arsenal boss explained.
The London Evening Standard has offered an encouraging update on the situation, reporting that the England and Arsenal star was “forced off with cramp” during the derby victory.
There is “optimism he will be available for the important matches against Atalanta and Manchester City this week.”
Both Arsenal and England will certainly be hoping this proves true, as few can match what Saka contributes to either team. Over the summer, former England manager Gareth Southgate praised Saka, calling him “immense.”
“The detail of how he had to defend, track and be in the right positions was very complex down that side of the pitch. Then to give us the outlet in those one against one situations, we felt could be a real advantage for us.
“He did, he kept that positive note, so, yeah, his performance was immense.”
Arsenal are hoping that Saka’s return won’t be their only injury boost in the near future, as Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Martin Odegaard all dealt with problems during the international break, while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mikel Merino remain out for an extended period.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice is confirmed to be available again after completing his one-game suspension, which is a major lift for the team. He hopes to pair up with his Arsenal and England teammate at the Etihad.
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