Arsenal have received a boost after Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard’s initial scans suggest they have not sustained long-term injuries in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Leeds United.
Gunners skipper Odegaard sustained a right shoulder injury in the 14th minute when he fell after being pulled back by Leeds’ Anton Stach.
Saka went down moments after the hosts scored their third goal against the visitors, courtesy of summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Following the match, Mikel Arteta said he feared Saka had suffered a ‘significant’ hamstring injury, which saw the winger substituted off in the second half, while captain Odegaard also left the pitch clutching his right shoulder earlier in the game.
This followed on from Kai Havertz sustaining an injured knee on the opening weekend, which prompted Arsenal to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace in a £67.5million deal.
Saka was side-lined for three-and-a-half months last season after tearing his right hamstring in December, before returning on April 1. While Odegaard missed 12 matches in the previous campaign with an ankle injury sustained in September.
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Yet it’s understood that Sunday’s scans showed that the injuries are not as serious as first feared.
Though further assessments are required this coming week.
Saka took his time to exit the field gingerly, and was greeted by his manager with a hug as he was swapped for Leandro Trossard.
The 23-year-old has cause for concern, even if his substitution was a precautionary one, after missing a large chunk of last season due to a hamstring tear.
Saka picked up the injury against Crystal Palace last December, and was forcibly sidelined until early April.
Arsenal’s No 7 underwent surgery before the end of 2024, and as he recovered, his absence from Arteta’s starting XI was deeply felt – with the playing having previously only missed out on 10 games during Arsenal’s last 172 matches in all competitions.
Odegaard also missed a run of games in the autumn last year after suffering an ankle injury on international duty with Norway.
However, Arteta is buoyant that his side maintain the quality to end their run of second-placed finishes.
When asked whether this squad was his best since taking charge of the club in December 2019, Arteta said: ‘In terms of numbers and quality, yes for sure.’
Arteta was also adamant that the signing of Eberechi Eze was not a reaction to Havertz’s injury. He said: ‘I think it was very clear what I said that it (transfer business) wasn’t done.
‘Obviously we were very active trying to look at the possibilities that could come. We are not reacting to anything, we’ve been very prepared and understanding what we could do, and we have decided this is the moment to do it.’
On Havertz’s injury, he added: ‘Well, certainly he’s not fit for this match. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury and we don’t really know yet the extent of it. I think we need a bit more time and some more tests and after that we’ll have more clarity about the next steps.
‘Mentally he’s in a good place. He’s a really strong boy, very committed.
