Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka has a “good chance to play” in Wednesday’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace after confirming the Arsenal winger’s injury is “nothing serious”.
Saka was seen limping after being substituted in the second half of Sunday’s 4-0 win at Ipswich following a first-half foul from Leif Davis that led to the defender’s dismissal.
Although Saka played on for a while after the injury, there were concerns he could be in danger of missing next week’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
But Gunners boss Arteta eased those fears as he said Saka was in contention to face Palace at the Emirates Stadium.
“We have to wait and see how he reacts after (the training) session, but it’s nothing too serious,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“If we want to, I think he would have a good chance to play tomorrow.”
Arsenal will not play again after the Palace game before they face PSG in their first Champions League semi-final since 2009.
The Gunners have never won Europe’s top club competition and last won a trophy five years ago, when they lifted the FA Cup.
Arteta believes the extra rest could be helpful ahead of Arsenal’s biggest European game for 16 years.
“We have more days, the amount of options that we have is not that many…. It’s good to have a little gap because we are really short in numbers,” he said.
Arteta added: “It is what we have. Let’s take the opportunity first of all. Earn the right to win the game tomorrow against a really good side that have a really good record away from home as well and after that we have time to prepare for the (PSG) game really well.” AFP
