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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Double Arsenal boost as Bukayo Saka and Oleksandr Zinchenko train ahead of FC Zurich match

Arsenal received a major fitness boost as Bukayo Saka and Oleksandr Zinchenko trained on Wednesday afternoon.

Saka suffered bruising to his ankle and foot on Sunday during the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest and he was forced to come off before the half-hour mark.

That had raised concerns Saka could miss the World Cup, which is due to start later this month in Qatar with England facing Iran on November 21.

The winger did not appear to be in too much discomfort as he left Emirates Stadium on Sunday and he visited the players’ lounge before heading home.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was also relatively upbeat on Saka’s injury and, when asked if the 21-year-old playing in the World Cup could be in doubt, Arteta replied: “Hopefully not.

“It was a bad kick. Right from the beginning he was limping, but I don’t see any further than that.

“Let’s see how he is in the next couple of days.”

Pressed on whether it was an ankle or foot issue for Saka, Arteta said: “I think both He got kicked a few times and he wasn’t comfortable.”

Arsenal were training on Wednesday afternoon ahead of their final Europa League game against FC Zurich at Emirates Stadium. Zinchenko featuring in the workout was also a welcome sign of his eventual return from a calf problem.

Matt Turner missed the session but Mohamed Elneny made an appearance as he makes his comeback from a hamstring injury.

The Gunners are currently top of Group A and they will secure first place, and a bye to the last-16, if they match PSV Eindhoven’s result against Bodo/Glimt.

Arsenal are then in action on Sunday, when they travel to Chelsea in the Premier League, and Saka was not expected to be risked against Zurich.

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