Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka likely sustained a ‘significant’ injury during Arsenal’s 5-0 victory over Leeds.
The Gunners cruised to a comprehensive win over Daniel Farke’s newly promoted Leeds side to maintain their 100 per cent record and go top of the Premier League.
But a pair of concerning injuries to two of Arteta’s most trusted squad members put a slight dampener on an otherwise dream afternoon for the hosts, leaving Arsenal fans sweating ahead of their trip to champions Liverpool.
Having managed the full 90 minutes at Manchester United previously, Odegaard appeared to be struggling with a shoulder injury in between Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka’s first-half goals and it was immediately apparent he could not continue.
Ethan Nwaneri came on in place of the Arsenal skipper and remained on the field for the remainder of the one-sided contest as Viktor Gyokeres and Timber both completed braces to cap off a convincing all-round performance.
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But there was more bad news for Arsenal in the 53rd minute as Saka, too, was forced from the field with a suspected hamstring injury – and there were audible groans around the Emirates as the forward hobbled off to be replaced by Leandro Trossard.
It came as some consolation to supporters that Saka was clutching his left hamstring. After all, It was the attacker’s right that required surgery and kept him sidelined for around three months last term.
‘Yeah, that was the negative of the day. Martin, first off, he felt his shoulder when he landed and we don’t know [the severity],’ Arteta said when asked for an update on Odegaard and Saka at his post-match press conference.
‘We’ll have to do a scan tomorrow to understand.
‘Bukayo, when he was running with the ball and wrestling with the defender, he felt something in his hamstring so let’s see.
‘It’s the other hamstring, not the same one that he had his previous injury.’
In an earlier interview with beIN SPORTS, Arteta suggested Saka’s injury may be serious based on the winger’s immediate reaction on the field.
Asked if he could elaborate on the injuries to Odegaard and Saka, Arteta replied: ‘I don’t know, obviously I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet.
‘But for Bukayo to come off… for sure, it looks like something that is significant.’
The Arsenal head coach added: ‘We have so many games, anything can happen and it happened to two of our most important players.
‘We already lost Kai [Havertz] so, yeah, we’re going to need everyone at their best and we’re going to need a lot of luck as well to make sure we don’t lose many others.’
More to follow.