In the latest update from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard ahead of the Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk is uncertain. Both players missed the weekend’s Premier League defeat to Bournemouth, with Saka nursing a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty with England.
Arteta addressed rumors of a setback in Odegaard’s recovery, indicating that the midfielder could return before the November international break. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Arteta confirmed that both players are making progress but stopped short of providing guarantees on their availability.
“They are closer and they’re both progressing really well. Martin is still not fit. With Bukayo, let’s see how he feels today and the transition that we have later on,” Arteta said.
The Arsenal squad will also be without Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Jurrien Timber for the upcoming match. Timber, who sustained a muscular injury against Paris Saint-Germain, has yet to return to full team training but is hopeful of a comeback.
On the topic of William Saliba’s red card, Arteta hinted that the club may consider appealing the decision after the defender was sent off in the Bournemouth match. Despite initially suggesting that no appeal would be made, Arteta left the final decision to the club officials.
Following Saliba’s red card, a similar incident involving Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo against Liverpool saw a different disciplinary outcome, with Adarabioyo only receiving a yellow card. The contrast in decisions raised questions about consistency in refereeing.
Overall, Arteta remains focused on preparing the team for the upcoming fixtures and addressing the squad’s injury concerns, with hopes of a successful return for key players in the near future.