At a Glance:
- Arsenal visit Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League.
- Bukayo Saka hasn’t featured at all since the Gunners’ last game against City, before the international break.
- He faces an uphill battle to prove his fitness ahead of the title showdown.
Bukayo Saka has a chance of featuring in Arsenal’s Premier League showdown with Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
The winger hasn’t played a minute of football since the Gunners’ last meeting with the Citizens, when Pep Guardiola’s outfit comfortably beat Mikel Arteta’s side at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.
This absence has hurt a struggling Arsenal side, who have won just one of their four matches without their talisman. However, Saka is now fighting his way back to fitness, and is still eager to make the North Londoners’ squad for the trip to Manchester.
According to the Mirror, the 24-year-old faces something of an uphill battle to be involved in this game, with his Achilles issue delicate and needing to be carefully managed.
However, the report does indicate that Saka hasn’t given up hope, and he could yet still feature in the north-west. He’ll face a late fitness test on Saturday to determine his availability.
Saka’s replacement, Noni Madueke, limped down the tunnel during Arsenal’s game against Sporting on Wednesday night. The extent of Madueke’s setback isn’t yet known, although it didn’t look promising.
If neither Madueke nor Saka are available for the City encounter, Arteta may have to call upon 16-year-old Max Dowman on the right wing.
Three more injured Arsenal stars hopeful of returning against Man City
Saka isn’t the only sidelined Arsenal star hoping to make a return at the Etihad. Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard are all currently suffering from injuries, but could play a role in Manchester.
The Mirror’s report suggests that Calafiori has a genuine chance of making a return. The Italian hasn’t played since Arsenal’s first leg away at Sporting last week.
That said, Arteta may be inclined to stick with Piero Hincapie for the trip to the north-west, after the Ecuadorian made his own return to action on Wednesday night, and produced a solid showing.
Elsewhere, Timber’s chances appear slightly slimmer. The Dutchman hasn’t played a minute since being substituted in the first half of the clash against Everton back in mid-March. There have been few concrete updates regarding his fitness status.
Meanwhile, Odegaard revealed on Wednesday that he’s striving to return as quickly as possible, and he certainly could be one who travels with Arteta’s squad to Manchester on Saturday evening.
