Arsenal are sweating on Saka’s fitness after he limped off against Lens with a muscle injury ahead of their crunch Premier League clash
Does it rule him out of Sunday? “I have no clue,” Arteta added, but he could only have been fearing the worst and already thinking of how Arsenal might try to replace the only man in Europe’s top five leagues with at least five goals and at least five assists already this season.“Every team in the world would miss Bukayo. But we have to see what happens next few days and hopefully it’s not too bad and hopefully he’s going to be ready.
It was evident in the second half against Lens that if Vieira is deployed in Saka’s place then he will drift inside and Gabriel Jesus will drift out wide. That is not necessarily a bad thing but might deprive the Gunners of that focal point up front when under pressure in possession. And Vieira won’t necessarily stretch the game in the same way as Saka does.
Smith Rowe, who had groin surgery last season, started his first game for Arsenal in nearly 500 days last week against Brentford. He has only started once this season, in the Carabao Cup against Brentford, but did sign a new four-year contract over the summer, suggesting he still remains firmly part of the Gunners’ plans.