Mikel Arteta is hopeful Bukayo Saka has avoided serious injury.
Arsenal winger Saka limped off after suffering injuries to his ankle and foot during the 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest which kept the Gunners top of the Premier League. Even the smallest injury comes with a worry for Gareth Southgate at this stage as England fly to Qatar in a fortnight, jetting out to the World Cup on Tuesday, November 15.
But Saka was able to leave the stadium walking freely, went to the players’ lounge afterwards and the hope is that he has not suffered a major blow. Arsenal were given a day off on Monday but Saka did report in, although they will assess his fitness and make a final judgement ahead of Thursday’s final Europa League Group match with FC Zurich.
Gunners boss Arteta is now sweating on the fitness of his squad ahead of another gruelling week for his title-chasers as they face FC Zurich on Thursday then Chelsea in a high noon showdown next Sunday.
The defeat at PSV Eindhoven last Thursday means they cannot make wholesale changes and rest players against FC Zurich because they need a win to guarantee top spot.
There is a huge incentive to win the Group as it means you go straight into the last 16 rather than face an extra two games in the last 32 with potential big guns coming in from the Champions League.
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It is almost certain that Thomas Partey and other key players will have to play on Thursday with the squad already stretched to the limit because of games and injuries. Partey has become a key player in the title charge and yet the medical department are managing his fitness carefully after previous injury issues.
But there is little room for manoeuvre because Granit Xhaka is banned and, even though Mo Elneny has returned to training after a hamstring injury, he is only likely to be on the bench.
Arsenal are having to manage Elneny’s fitness after a serious hamstring issue and do not want to rush him back even though the Egypt midfielder is desperate to play.
Emile Smith Rowe is another big name absentee which has put pressure on Saka to play every game. But Arsenal are hoping Smith Rowe will return to full fitness during the World Cup break and be ready when the Premier League restarts.
Arsenal were able to call on Reiss Nelson to replace Saka and the 22-year-old scored twice and provided an assist. Nelson admitted that he had feared his Arsenal career was over after being loaned out to Feyenoord last season but refused to give up.
Nelson told the club website: “I’ve been on loan, and sometimes you feel like it’s not going to come you know. But of course, I believe in God, and I believe in myself, and I believe in the team. So I’ve just been patient and ready for that. Ready for the opportunity to come.
“I think it gives me all the confidence in the world you know. And yeah like I said I’m just going to keep training every day, like I can. Hard as I can, if I get another opportunity just to keep going, helping the team really - and just keep pushing on.”
