Arsenal injury worries pile up with doubts over return of Saka from achilles issue

Mikel Arteta has insisted that he has “zero fear” that Arsenal could end the season without silverware but admitted that there are major doubts over when Bukayo Saka will return from an achilles injury.

Arsenal head into the second leg of their Champions League tie against Sporting on Wednesday having lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, culminating with Saturday’s damaging home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League that left the door open to title rivals Manchester City.

The sole exception was the 1-0 win in the first leg in Portugal last week, with Arteta’s side having the opportunity to reach successive semifinals in Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in their history.
But after being heavily criticised for his side’s performance in the loss to Bournemouth amid suggestions they are choking, the Arsenal manager insisted that he is remaining positive.

“Fire. I’m on fire. I’m on fire,” he said. “Nothing else. I’m dreaming so much. I’ve done so much to be in this position because I know how this club was. I just see beauty, opportunity, and I want to get it done for all these people that have been in this journey with us. And because they deserve it, because it’s been unbelievable.

“That’s what has driven me every single day. I have zero fear. Fear I had when, ‘Oh, if we don’t get this done, this club, I don’t know what is going to happen.’ That was fear. Now, there’s no fear. It’s just purpose, fire, direction and conviction that we’re going to do it.”

Saka has not featured since the Carabao Cup final defeat to City last month and Arteta admitted that he isn’t sure when he will return having carried the issue “for a while”.

“Hopefully it’s going to be a matter of days and not weeks. But he has to see when he’s loading more, how he responds to that kind of progression,” he said.

Arsenal also have doubts over Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and captain Martin Odegaard for the game against Sporting, while Arteta revealed that he will make a late call on Declan Rice’s fitness after the England midfielder missed training on Tuesday.

“He’s played a lot of games, and that’s part of the issue,” he said. “But he’s going to try to do everything that he possibly can to be with us tomorrow. That’s for sure.”