LENS (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted his team’s 2-1 Champions League defeat against Lens in France on Tuesday was “a big lesson” as he confirmed Bukayo Saka had been forced off with a muscle injury.
The England winger limped off late in the Gunners’ 4-0 Premier League win at Bournemouth at the weekend but recovered from that to start against Lens.
He duly set up Arsenal’s opener for Gabriel Jesus, but went down just after the half-hour mark and had to be replaced by Fabio Vieira.
“He tried to back-heel a ball in the first half and he felt something, it was something muscular. He was uncomfortable to carry on so we had to take him off,” said Arteta, who had seen Adrien Thomasson equalise for Lens before Saka came off.
Elye Wahi scored the winner for the hosts in the second half.
The injury raises fears that Saka, who has played in all but one of Arsenal’s games this season and is their leading scorer, may not be fit to face Manchester City on Sunday.
His place in the England squad to play Australia and Italy this month could also be in doubt.
“It was big enough to stop him being able to continue and that is obviously a worry for us,” said Arteta, who rejected suggestions Saka might have been rested here.
“It was a knock that he had the other day. He was perfectly fine. It was an action, it was the back-heel, that can produce that type of injury. Let’s see what the extent of it is.”
He added: “He was really looking forward to playing. It was a big Champions League night.
I painted a picture of the type of game that we would have to face today.
“It is the Champions League so it is difficult to win, very difficult to win away from home, and we take a big lesson from tonight.”
