Injury update: Arteta gives update on Saka’s availability ahead of Chelsea clash
Arsenal Football Club will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League as they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The manager of the club Mikel Arteta was speaking in a pre-match press conference where he was asked about the fitness of Bukayo Saka. He said, he is yet to access the player but he is optimistic that the midfielder wants to play the game.
“I am sure he wants to play. I don’t see any player there that doesn’t want to be in the starting XI. He has been working so hard to be fit for this game and let’s see where he is at today. He had a couple of days off that he needed, but the rest, unfortunately, has not been rest for him because he needed the treatment and training to get ready to be available against Chelsea.
I think we have to play him when we see he is in the right condition to play mentally, and physically and that he’s performing. He needs to deserve to play, that’s another story, but so far when he’s played that amount of minutes, it’s because we believe he was ready to cope with that.”
Saka missed his first Premier League game in 88 matches against Manchester City before the International break, after being forced off injured against Lens in the Champions League nearly three weeks ago.
Arsenal go into this game joint top with Tottenham Hotspur, a victory will take them to the top of the table pending when Spurs play.
The game between Chelsea and Arsenal is always a highly anticipated football fixture in England, pitting two prominent London-based clubs against each other. Both teams have been rivals for many years, with matches between the two often referred to as “London derbies.”
Arsenal have been in fantastic form since last season leading unto this current campaign. Chelsea on the other hand have been living on past glory when Roman Abramovich was in charge of everything at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal will be going into this game with confidence following their victory over Manchester City before the International break. Chelsea supporters on the other hand can take solace in the fact that Mauricio Pochettino has never lost a home game against the Gunners.
Chelsea Team News
Chelsea have been hit with an injury crisis which only worsened over the international break. While Benoit Badiashile is edging closer to a return, Romeo Lavia, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemeka have all suffered setbacks in their recoveries and will not be available for this weekend’s game against the Gunners. However, there is a bit of good news for the Blues following the return of the club’s captain, Rece James and Axel Disasi to training.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal have less to worry about injury to their first-team players although there are doubts surrounding Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Leandro Trossard. However, Saka and Partey are expected to be start the game at Stamford Bridge.
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