Arteta Confirms Saka's Ankle Injury is Minor Ahead of Crucial Champions League Clash

Mikel Arteta reassures fans about Bukayo Saka's minor ankle injury, emphasizing precautionary measures as Arsenal gears up for the Champions League semi-final.

Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has confirmed that Bukayo Saka's recent ankle injury is not serious. The incident occurred during Arsenal's commanding 4-0 victory over Ipswich in the Premier League. Saka was substituted in the second half after a high challenge from Leif Davis, who was subsequently sent off.

Arteta described Saka as being "a bit sore" but emphasized that the substitution was merely a precaution. This is particularly significant as Arsenal is preparing for the Champions League semi-final against Paris St-Germain on April 29.

"He was a bit sore, but it's nothing serious, so it's good," Arteta stated. "I haven't seen the slow motion, I've just seen the normal pace image and yeah, he cuts him from the back. I don't think it's intentional at all, but it's dangerous because he cannot really react to anything, because you cannot see him coming."

This season, Arsenal has faced numerous injuries, with key players like Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus missing significant game time. Arteta admitted that seeing a player struggle during a match is always a concern, especially given the current squad's depth.

Reflecting on the game against Ipswich, Arteta praised his team's performance, particularly the first 35 minutes, which he described as "one of the best 35 minutes we played this season." He highlighted the team's high intensity and control over the game, which led to a comfortable victory.

Looking ahead, Arteta must decide whether to rest key players for the upcoming Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, considering the crucial Champions League fixture.

"We have to somehow put 11 players out there and have four or five changes, so let's see how they recover in the next few days," Arteta explained. "The good thing is they are willing to play because they like the rhythm as well. We are so used to that rhythm every three days that the boys are demanding and then we don't have a game at the weekend, so we have a gap there, so let's see how we get on Wednesday."

In preparation for the semi-final, Arteta made strategic adjustments to the midfield, considering Thomas Partey's suspension. Declan Rice was moved to a deeper midfield role, and Leandro Trossard stepped up, scoring two goals and proving his readiness for the upcoming challenges.

"Yeah, he's certainly ready to play in any position," Arteta said of Trossard. "We have to make certain adjustments, not because of PSG but because of the situation we had with Thomas and a few other players. But that's good because the team shows adaptability, versatility for certain players to play in different positions. And that's very much needed, especially when we have the numbers that we have at the moment."

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