Mikel Arteta has admitted he fears Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are set for lengthy spells on the sidelines after both players were substituted in Arsenal's 5-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday.
Arteta sweating on Odegaard & Saka fitnessBoth players withdrawn against LeedsArsenal travel to Liverpool nextFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Saka and Odegaard were withdrawn as the Gunners cruised to a comfortable victory over newly-promoted Leeds at the Emirates Stadium. Captain Odegaard winced as he fell to the ground following a challenge by Anton Stach in the first half, whereas Saka pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury after the interval.
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The injuries to Odegaard and Saka have come at a terrible time for Arsenal, who have recently lost Kai Havertz to a knee problem. The north Londoners are yet to confirm how long the Germany international will be out for as they continue to run tests to determine the extent of the injury.
WHAT ARTETA SAID
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Arteta said of Odegaard and Saka's injuries: "Martin looks like a shoulder issue so we will have to scan tomorrow and understand how bad it is. And Bukayo had to come off after sprinting and when he was wrestling with the defender he felt something in his hamstring, I think. It is the other side [to Saka's previous hamstring injury] but it is still not good.
"I don't know [how long they will be out for]. We already lost Kai [Havertz] who is a big player for us and now Bukayo and Martin. That is why the squad has to be well-equipped. It is going to be a long season and we are going to need a lot of players in order to achieve what we want."
DID YOU KNOW?
The suspected injuries to Odegaard and Saka were sour notes on what was an otherwise brilliant evening for Arsenal. Arteta's men were in fine form as Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres both scored braces while Saka also found the back of the net in an impressive victory on home soil.