Mikel Arteta issued a brief confession straight after losing to RC Lens about the injury that Bukayo Saka sustained in the Champions League that will concern Arsenal’s fans.
The Gunners fell to a 2-1 loss at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Tuesday night. Gabriel Jesus had given Arsenal an early lead at RC Lens in the 14th minute. But a poor mistake by David Raya gave Les Sang et Or possession before Adrien Thomasson finessed a shot in on 25 minutes.
Elye Wahi – who was a transfer target for Arsenal this summer – would also later delight the home crowd. The 20-year-old punished Arteta’s side for wasting their few chances to regain the lead on 69 minutes. But, worse than their defeat, Arsenal are sweating on Saka’s injury.
Mikel Arteta admits Bukayo Saka’s injury ‘doesn’t look good’
Arteta was forced to take Saka off in only the 34th minute at RC Lens after the Arsenal talent felt a muscular injury. It marked the third time in successive fixtures that the winger has not seen the full-time whistle. He also limped off against Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth.
The 22-year-old appeared to hold his thigh as the attacker made way after sustaining heavy knocks in their recent matches. Any injury to Saka was the last thing that Arsenal and their supporters wanted ahead of hosting Manchester City and Arteta has given a worrying view.
TV2 journalist Arilas Ould-Saada shared following Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to RC Lens that Arteta told him, ‘It doesn’t look good’, when addressing Saka’s injury. His four-word admission will surely concern the Gunners’ supporters ahead of them hosting Manchester City on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta defends starting the Arsenal winger vs RC Lens
Yet while Arsenal’s fans will fear Saka’s injury, Arteta also defended his decision to start the attacker at RC Lens. The Spaniard claims the Hale End product did not need any convincing to start the Champions League tie after knocks in games with Tottenham and Bournemouth.
“No, he was really looking forward to playing, like every player,” Arteta stated, via quotes by the Mirror. “It was a big Champions League night.”
Saka has started in all 10 of his appearances so far this season from Arsenal’s 11 games after facing RC Lens. Arteta did not put the 30-cap back-to-back England Player of the Year in his squad at Brentford in the Carabao Cup. He rested their attacker after his issue against Spurs.
Saka suffered a heavy knock to his foot in the north London derby that ruled him out of the Carabao Cup encounter. Yet the forward returned at Bournemouth and scored his fifth goal of the term. But he would sustain yet another knock and did not continue after 76 minutes.
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