Arsenal injury latest as Bukayo Saka update emerges with Mikel Arteta plan clear

Arsenal are back in Champions League action this week with Mikel Arteta making an admission over Bukayo Saka’s fitness.

Mikel Arteta has disclosed that Bukayo Saka didn’t start Arsenal’s 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest because he had a “niggle” before the match. Saka has been a constant presence in the Gunners squad over recent months, with the 24-year-old featuring in 29 matches across all competitions this season, contributing 13 goals and assists.

However, Arteta opted to name Saka among the substitutes for the match at The City Ground on Saturday. The England international was brought on in the 57th minute for Noni Madueke and had the clearest opportunity of the match, guiding what appeared to be a perfectly-placed header towards the bottom corner, but Matz Sels was positioned to deny him.

Clarifying his choice to bench Saka, Arteta said: “Bukayo had a lot of minutes and as well, he had a niggle before the game. So we need to manage our players, and we have some fantastic players that can provide different things. We did try from the beginning.

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“We tried after half time as well in the next taking more risk and bringing even more players in those attacking options. We tried in every way [to win the game] and it wasn’t enough, unfortunately.” With Saka becoming the latest Arsenal player to pick up an injury, we’ve taken a look at the other absentees and their anticipated return dates.

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Bukayo Saka

Injury: Unknown

Arteta didn’t disclose the exact location of the “niggle” that Saka suffered, but it seems that the Arsenal winger might need to be managed moving forwards. Despite carrying a minor issue, he still looked sharp against Forest when he came on.

Expected return date: Likely to feature vs Inter on January 20th.

Piero Hincapie

Injury: Groin.

Hincapie hobbled off during the draw against Liverpool on January 8 after injuring his left leg. Arteta later confirmed the Ecuador international had suffered a groin injury, and he has since missed the last three matches.

Potential return date: January 25 (vs Man United).

Riccardo Calafiori

Injury: Muscle

Calafiori hasn’t featured for Arsenal since the win against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup back in December, with the Italian suffering an injury in the warm-up before Brighton. Arteta said the defender “felt something very awkward”, and he has not been involved since.

Despite it being hoped that Calafiori could return to Chelsea and then Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but he was still out and is not expected to return for another couple of weeks at least.

Potential return date: Early February.

Max Dowman

Injury: Ankle

Dowman sustained an ankle injury while playing for the Under 21s against Manchester United in early December. He is not expected to return for at least the next couple of weeks, like teammate Calafiori.

Expected return date: Early February.

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