BUKAYO Saka is not certain to be fit on Thursday to face Manchester United, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted.
The England international with Nigerian heritage has been one of Arsenal’s key players this season as they overcame a woeful start to surge up the Premier League table.
But he could be out of the clash at Old Trafford after scoring and picking up a knock in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United.
“Granit is still not ready, Kolasinac is still not ready, we have a doubt with Bukayo and another few knocks we got against Newcastle so today is the day to assess how everyone is and if they will be fit for tomorrow and then make the decision on the squad,” Arteta said on Wednesday while previewing the match for the media.
“I am hopeful but we don’t know. Obviously it’s a really short turnaround and the player has to be comfortable playing with a little injury, so let’s see how he (Saka) is in training.”
The former Arsenal midfielder added, regarding Saka: “Well, we’re not going to risk our players if we believe that that can obviously go against us. Playing with an injury means that he may have to leave the pitch and when someone has to leave the pitch, I believe that he’s injured, even though he’s willing to continue.
“That injury can be 24 hours, 72 hours or a year. Bukayo is really willing. He’s been preparing for the last two days because he wants to play and let’s see how he is.”
While Arsenal have been in impressive form since losing their first three games of the season, recording only one defeat in their last 10 league games, Manchester United have spiralled down the table in contrast.
However, Arteta is not taking the Red Devils lightly, especially as they have been unbeaten against Villarreal and Chelsea since Michael Carrick took temporary charge following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“You know what to expect when you got to that stadium and play in front of that crowd,” the Spaniard said.
“They are a team, a squad that is one of the most talented in the league. You know the situation you are going to face. It is very difficult tactically because you don’t know how they are going to prepare the game, the options that they can play, the formation they can [have] so it’s focused more on ourselves, on what we have to do and make sure the team is prepared to go there and beat them.”
Manchester United have appointed German coach Ralf Rangnick as interim manager until the end of the season, although he will not be in the dugout for the Arsenal clash as he awaits his work permit.
Arteta praised the 63-year-old as a ‘top coach’.
“He has been one of the top coaches in every involvement he has had in the game, not only in coaching,” he noted.
“He’s made some radical changes in some areas and he’s a really interesting person in the footballing world, and a really interesting appointment for the club.”
Arteta is unbeaten against Manchester United as a manager, winning two games and drawing one. He hopes the streak continues on Thursday.
He said: “The confidence that we have to prepare the matches to win, and we, first of all, have to respect the opponent that we will have in front of us, but with the end goal, the mindset, the confidence, the desire to win the game and have that belief straight away.”
Arsenal are fifth in the Premier League table with 23 points, three spots and five points ahead of United.
