Arsenal faced Leeds United today at Elland Road, and Bukayo Saka was named in the starting XI, but the Englishman had to pull out of the team before kick-off, and manager Mikel Arteta has now provided an update on the winger.
Arsenal Fans Get Update on Bukayo Saka After Leeds United Win
Saka was warming up with his Arsenal teammates ahead of the game today when he went down the tunnel, while others were still on the pitch. The winger was pulled from the starting XI by the club, with Noni Madueke taking his place.
Fans around the world were worried about Saka, and now Arteta has provided an update. The Spaniard has revealed that the Englishman had a niggle in the warm-up and opted to sit out.
The manager’s comment suggests that the winger was not risked ahead of the busy schedule, with Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semifinal second leg and the business end of the season closing in. He said after the match:
“In the warm-up, he had a little niggle, he wasn’t comfortable starting the game, so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in. And he was ready, because you cannot do that in two minutes. The way he prepared, the way he’s waiting for opportunity, I think it paid off today because he really impacted the team.”
Saka has managed just three assists in his last 10 matches for the Gunners in all competitions. He has not got on the scoresheet in any of those matches, and has managed just four goals in the league this season.
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Meanwhile, Noni Madueke, who replaced Saka in the starting XI today just minutes before kick off, managed to get two assists in the game. He was praised by Arteta after the game, saying that the former Chelsea man was in the right mindset to come out and deliver when needed, and said:
“That’s only possible if those players are with the right mindset. We talked before the game that it’s going to be a long game, we’re going to have to navigate through different moments. We’re going to need everybody fulfilling their role that they have on the day, and I think the players executed that incredibly well.”
Arteta’s side went on to win 4-0 at Elland Road today, with Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres, and Gabriel Jesus getting on the scoresheet. They are now seven points clear at the top of the table with Manchester City and Aston Villa to play tomorrow, Sunday, February 1.
