Arsenal have been hit by an injury to Bukayo Saka ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg showdown with Chelsea.
The Gunners’ attacking talisman was hurt in the warm-up ahead of Saturday’s thumping 4-0 win over Leeds in the Premier League
.
Though replacement Noni Madueke was superb after receiving a late promotion to the starting lineup at Elland Road, Saka’s setback will be a huge concern to Mikel Arteta ahead of Chelsea’s visit to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, in a tie that his side lead 3-2 as they look to book their place at Wembley on March 22.
It is another big week and busy month for Arsenal as they continue to fight for major silverware on four different fronts during what could yet be a truly special season, having snapped a three-game winless run in the top-flight in Yorkshire and reaffirmed their title credentials following more questions about their ability to last the distance.
Sunderland head to north London next weekend after Chelsea’s visit, with derbies against Brentford and arch-rivals Tottenham then sandwiched between an FA Cup fourth-round contest at home to Wigan.
There had been mostly good news on the fitness front of late for Arteta, with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both returning against Leeds after respective knocks, Kai Havertz starting again and playing an hour, and Riccardo Calafiori getting his first league minutes since December.But it doesn’t get much worse for Arsenal than an injury to Saka, who has repeatedly struggled with hamstring issues in recent seasons. Here is all the latest Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of the clash with Chelsea.Saka was, as expected, selected to return to Arsenal’s starting lineup against Leeds having been rested during Wednesday night’s 3-2 home win over Kairat in a Champions League dead-rubber
But he picked up an injury during the warm-up and went straight down the tunnel with a physio before Madueke was drafted in and Christian Norgaard – who did not even make the matchday squad along with Myles Lewis-Skelly – added to the bench.
It was being reported initially as an issue with Saka’s left hip, though Arteta would not divulge any specifics after the game as he insisted that the severity of the injury was not yet known.So in the warm-up he had a little niggle,” Arteta said. “He wasn’t comfortable to start the game so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in and he was ready, because you cannot do that in two minutes.
About the Author
