The Ukrainian was replaced by Jakub Kiwior at half-time (Picture: Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has downplayed the injury that forced Bukayo Saka off in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday but says Oleksandr Zinchenko has reaggravated his calf problem.
The Gunners made an excellent start to the contest and took a deserved lead through Saka, though they were pegged back just before the half-time break after a calamitous own goal from Gabriel Magalhaes.
Liverpool improved at the start of the second half but were architects of their own downfall when a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson allowed Gabriel Martinelli to roll the ball into an empty net.
The visitors tried to push for an equaliser but their task was made even harder when Ibrahima Konate received a second yellow card, with substitute Leandro Trossard then wrapping up the win late on.
While Arsenal picked up a huge victory, they were also dealt a couple of injury blows with Zinchenko replaced by Jakub Kiwior at half-time and Saka requiring treatment before being withdrawn in the 79th minute.
While Arteta is hopeful Saka’s issue is only minor, he was a little more cautious about Zinchenko – particularly with the Ukrainian having struggled with a calf issue all season.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Arteta said: ‘We have lost four or five big players for almost all the season and today it’s [Zinchenko].
Saka was forced off late on against Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
‘Let’s see how it is, but Thomas [Partey] as well, Gabriel Jesus as well, [Jurrien] Timber, [Takehiro] Tomiyasu still away. Some big players.
‘But when I have players like Jorgi or Leo, the way they train every day, that you made them play 10 minutes or 96 minutes, and look how they do. And that’s not a coincidence, it’s the way they behave every day.’
Asked specifically about Saka at his post-match press conference, Arteta said: ‘He should be fine.
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‘He got a kick I think on the ankle or on the back of his foot, but he should be fine.’
On Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, he said: ‘With Gabi we expect it to be [a matter of] days and with Alex we don’t know because he had some feeling in his calf again and we had to take him out.’
Arteta added: ‘We need players back, because now we have a few injuries and that’s a big concern that I have, the availability of the squad.
‘If we have everybody fit, training and available, we have a good chance.’
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