Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and William Saliba face late fitness tests after injury setbacks… with the England star ‘working so hard’ to return for trip to Chelsea
- Bukayo Saka and William Saliba both pulled out of international duty last week
- The duo still need to be assessed ahead of game against Chelsea
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Coming Up!’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is set to make a late call on the fitness of Bukayo Saka and William Saliba ahead of his side’s trip to Chelsea on Saturday.
Saka missed Arsenal’s 1-0 victory against Manchester City before the international break with a hamstring injury, and then had to pull out of national team duty, while Saliba also didn’t play for France due to a toe problem.
Saliba will be assessed when the Gunners train later today, and Saka is still not guaranteed to return despite making good progress over the past two weeks.
Speaking about Saka’s availability on Friday morning, Arteta said: ‘He has been working so hard to be fit for this game and let’s see where he is at today.
‘He had a couple of days off that he needed as well, but the rest [of the international break] has not been rest for him because he needed to do the treatment and train, and get ready to be available against Chelsea.
Bukayo Saka picked up a hamstring injury earlier this month and is working his way back to full fitness
William Saliba is also battling with a toe problem that ruled him out of international duty
Mikel Arteta has said the duo need to be assessed ahead of the trip to Chelsea
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‘I’m sure he wants to play. I don’t see any player there that doesn’t want to be in the starting XI.’
Arteta will be desperate to have the duo back given their importance to his team for their clash with Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
Saka already has four goals and two assists to his name in the Premier League this season, while Saliba has played every minute of Arsenal’s league campaign to date.
Leandro Trossard is also a doubt for the match at Stamford Bridge after picking up his own hamstring injury in the win over City.
The Belgian international was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli at half time in that match, with the Brazilian winger going on to score the winning goal via a deflection.
Arsenal head into this weekend level on points with leaders Tottenham, and can go top of the table if they avoid defeat against Chelsea, with Spurs not due to face Fulham until Monday night.
Saka has been ‘working so hard’ to return but still needs to prove his fitness to Arteta
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