Bukayo Saka could feature for Arsenal as early as Thursday’s Europa League clash with FC Zurich after Mikel Arteta allayed fears of a serious injury for the England winger.
Saka limped off early in the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday after taking a blow to his ankle.
That sparked concern for Saka’s World Cup chances with the tournament to kick off in Qatar in little over three weeks.
However, Arteta said Saka has returned to training and is available for selection as his side aims to secure the top spot in Europa League Group A and a place in the last 16.
“Bukayo just missed one or two (training sessions) and he was fine today,” said Arteta at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“We’re using our brains and our common sense, but obviously he had a kick.
“He was uncomfortable with it, we made the decision to get him off and now he’s feeling fine.”
But Arteta dismissed the suggestion he has a responsibility to balance Arsenal’s interests with his players’ dreams of representing their nations at the World Cup.
“Every day I feel the responsibility to protect them, to guide them, to get the best out of them,” added Arteta.
“But we are playing for Arsenal at the moment and that’s what they have to focus on.
“When they played for England or their national teams they have to focus on the national team and on England and this is what we have to.”
Arsenal need to beat the Swiss champions to guarantee to finish ahead of PSV Eindhoven at the top of the group.
But a Premier League trip to Chelsea on Sunday could come into Arteta’s thinking with Arsenal involved in the title race for the first time in seven years.
Arteta’s men lead defending champions Manchester City by two points at the top of the table with two more league games before the World Cup break.
AFP
