Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta raised concerns about the injuries to Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice after the team’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Saka was forced to leave the field in the 81st minute due to a leg issue, while Rice had to be substituted 10 minutes earlier after suffering a broken toe. Despite these setbacks, both players have been included in England's squad for their upcoming fixtures against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Arteta, however, expressed doubts about whether the two key players would be fit for international duty. The manager highlighted that it is unusual for such important players to signal for substitutions unless they are seriously injured. "It doesn’t look good because for two players of that importance to say they want to come off is unusual," Arteta said after the match. "I don’t expect them to be fit for the international break, because if not, they don’t come off."
This concern comes at a difficult time for Arsenal, as Saka had already missed two matches earlier in the season due to an injury sustained during the last international break. The club has also been dealing with a series of injury issues to other key players, including captain Martin Ødegaard, who made his first start since August against Chelsea. Arteta has been grappling with these ongoing injury challenges, which have impacted his team’s consistency.
Despite the injury problems, Arteta remains hopeful that the international break will provide some respite. He hopes that after the break, his squad will return fully fit and ready to compete. "What I’m praying for is that after the international break, we have the team fully physically equipped, that they are available and that they are fit because it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks," Arteta explained.
With Arsenal facing a tough schedule ahead, Arteta’s focus is on getting his key players back to full fitness, especially with important matches on the horizon. The manager’s concerns underscore the ongoing challenges that have plagued Arsenal’s season, but he remains optimistic that the break will provide the necessary recovery time for his team to get back on track.
