Bukayo Saka’s injury status is updated by Mikel Arteta for Arsenal vs. Man City, and Pep Guardiola has ruled the defender out.
Prior to Arsenal vs. Manchester City in the Premier League on Friday, both managers delivered the most recent injury updates.
Bukayo Saka may be available for Sunday’s match against Manchester City, according to Mikel Arteta.
The Arsenal winger was replaced during the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Lens because of ongoing issues.
Initially thought to be out for this weekend’s game, his selection to the England squad on Thursday gave Arsenal supporters optimism.
Saka may participate in some capacity at the Emirates this weekend, according to Arteta, who said at the press conference on Friday:
“He is in contention; we’ll see how he goes from here to Sunday. It’s never good news when a player has to leave the field (against Lens), but let’s see how he recovers.
Should Saka be ruled out of Sunday’s game, it would bring to an end his 87-match run of consecutive league appearances for the Gunners. Gabriel Martinelli is expected to miss out through injury, while Jurrien Timber is definitely unavailable due to an ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola said in his press conference that John Stones, who was also named in Gareth Southgate’s squad, will not be fit to feature on Sunday. The centre-back has not played in the league this season due to a hip issue, but was named on the bench for the midweek Champions League win over RB Leipzig.
Despite that, Guardiola said Stones isn’t an option for the trip to Arsenal. “No. He’s not ready to play. Maybe for the national team, but not us,” explained the City boss.
Guardiola also gave a positive update on Kevin De Bruyne, who has not played since the opening night of the season. The Belgian suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury from last campaign and was not expected to return until the new year, but Guardiola said City’s no.17 is ahead of schedule.
“Kevin comes in at different times, either before training or for his treatment,” he said. “After training he sees physios, and so on. Of course I see him every day and he’s getting better, and his mood is good. Hopefully [he will be back] sooner than expected he will be back.
Other than Stones and De Bruyne, Rodri is City’s only absentee for the top-of-the-table encounter at the Emirates, with the midfielder suspended following his red card against Nottingham Forest.
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Mikel Arteta reveals star player is in contention to play against Manchester City
Mikel Arteta revealed in his Friday press conference that Bukayo Saka is in contention to start against Manchester City despite picking up an injury midweek.
Arsenal face Manchester City at the Emirates this weekend in a game which many are already tipping as a potential title decider.
The Gunners have not beaten the Cityzens in the league in over eight years, losing every one of their previous 12 encounters.
If Arteta wants his club to finally achieve Premier League glory then he will at some stage have to beat current holders, Manchester City.
But he will have to do it without a number of key players with the likes of Gabriel Martinelli unlikely to feature after returning from injury and Thomas Partey just back from the physio room.
Saka was also a doubt for Sunday’s clash after limping off during Arsenal’s Champions League loss on Tuesday but according to Arteta, he is now “in contention” to play.
“He is in contention,” he said via Sky Sports.
“Let’s see how he progresses from here to Sunday.
“Obviously, he had to leave the pitch and that’s never good news, but let’s see how he recovers.”
The English winger is a crucial component for Arsenal and arguably their most important player so far this season.
Losing him could be detrimental in their quest to finally break their Manchester City losing streak.
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