Mikel Arteta offers Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard injury updates after Arsenal blow
Arsenal were without captain Martin Odegaard and star winger Bukayo Saka for the weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth and both Gunners are doubtful for the clash with Shakhtar Donetsk
by Daniel Orme · The MirrorArsenal could be without THREE key stars for their Champions League showdown with Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Gunners host the Ukrainian side at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday for their latest group game. But Mikel Arteta has a host of issues to consider ahead of the clash.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with the serious knee injury that he sustained last month. Bukayo Saka is also a doubt - he pulled out of international duty and then missed the weekend defeat to Bournemouth.
While Arteta is optimistic that they could be back in action sooner rather than later, the duo are still major doubts for Tuesday’s bout. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Spaniard said: “They are closer. Both progressing well. Martin [Odegaard] not fit. With Bukayo let’s see how he is with the training session later on.”
Both Saka and Odegaard have been crucial to Arsenal’s impressive form under Arteta over the past few seasons. The former has three goals and seven assists to his name in all competitions already this term - one of his goals coming in the win against French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
Odegaard’s contributions have been limited this term having made just three appearances but his performances over time at Arsenal have been eye-catching. The duo might not be the only stars that the Gunners are without against Shakhtar.
Takehiro Tomiyasu remains sidelined, while Jurrien Timber is also struggling with his own fitness issues. Arteta has also admitted that the Dutchman could miss the game.
He added: “I think it’s gonna be close. We’ll have to see how he deals with training with the whole group because he hasn’t done it yet.”
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One boost that Arsenal have been given however is that William Saliba is available. Despite being sent off against Bournemouth, the Frenchman’s ban does not carry over into European competitions.
Speaking about the Gunners’ third dismissal of the season, Arteta added: “Playing with 10 men there is obviously an issue. When you analyse the three different actions and the outcomes it’s very different. We cannot continue to play with 10 men. The task becomes almost impossible. We need to eradicate that.”
Saliba however will miss Arsenal’s next game. The Gunners host title rivals Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
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