Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has raised concerns over the injuries sustained by Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice following the team's 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday. Both players were forced off the pitch due to injury, with Rice being substituted in the 71st minute after playing through a broken toe, while Saka was taken off shortly after receiving treatment for a leg issue.
Arteta described the situation as worrying, acknowledging that for two key players to tell him they could not continue playing was a sign that the injuries were serious. This news adds to the growing list of injury problems Arsenal has faced this season, particularly affecting their star players.
Both Saka and Rice are currently part of England’s squad for the upcoming Nations League matches, with the team set to play in Greece on November 14, followed by a home game against the Republic of Ireland three days later. However, Arteta expressed doubt over whether either player would be able to feature for the national team, as he remains unsure about their fitness.
He explained that if the injuries were severe, both players would not have been able to continue the game, and it was too early to determine if they would be available for international duty. Arteta’s primary concern, however, is Arsenal’s ongoing injury crisis, with several key players sidelined over the past few weeks.
The Gunners are heading into the international break with a challenging period behind them, sitting nine points off the top of the Premier League table and without a win in their last five matches across all competitions. Arteta hopes that after the break, his squad will be back to full fitness, allowing them to recover from a challenging eight-week stretch plagued by injuries.
Meanwhile, Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard made his first start in two months in the match against Chelsea, and Arteta intends to discuss whether the midfielder should join Norway’s squad for the upcoming international fixtures. The manager’s focus remains on getting his players fully fit and ready for the tough schedule ahead.
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