Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has announced that key players Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard are likely to miss upcoming international matches due to injuries that have plagued the team’s season.
The update came after Arsenal’s recent Premier League match against Chelsea, where both Saka and Rice were forced off the field with injuries, resulting in a frustrating 1-1 draw.
Arteta expressed concern about the severity of these injuries, as both players have been essential to Arsenal’s recent form. “It doesn’t look good [for Bukayo and Declan],” Arteta noted, stressing the seriousness of their conditions.
He explained that when vital players like Saka and Rice signal they can’t continue, it rarely bodes well for their immediate recovery.
Arteta remains uncertain about their availability for Arsenal’s upcoming games, saying, “I don’t know whether to expect them to be fit because if not they don’t come off.”
Regarding Odegaard, who recently returned from an ankle injury suffered in August while on international duty, Arteta admitted he has yet to fully assess the player’s condition. He plans to discuss Odegaard’s recovery and will provide an update afterward.
Arteta has faced continuous challenges managing Arsenal’s squad amid frequent injuries over the past eight weeks.
He’s not only dealing with players who are entirely sidelined but also with those who are limited in playing time, making consistency harder to maintain.
Looking ahead to the international break, Arteta hopes it will offer his squad some relief and a chance to recover.
“I’m praying that after the international break, we have the team fully physically equipped, that they are available and fit,” he said, describing the recent period as a “nightmare.”
Despite the struggles, Arteta expressed confidence in his team’s determination. “The desire the team has and how much we want it—there’s no question.
It’s going to come,” he concluded, emphasizing his belief in Arsenal’s resilience during a challenging season filled with injury setbacks.
