Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Arteta Confirms Muscle Injury For Saka

POSTED ON October 3, 2023 •   SPORTS      BY Segun Adewole
Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, conceded that his team's 2-1 defeat in the Champions League against Lens in France on Tuesday served as a "big lesson." Arteta also confirmed that star winger Bukayo Saka had been sidelined with a muscle injury during the match. Saka, who had recently limped off late in Arsenal's 4-0 Premier League victory against Bournemouth, managed to recover and started in the fixture against Lens. He even played a key role in Arsenal's opening goal, setting up Gabriel Jesus. However, Saka suffered an injury setback just after the half-hour mark, ultimately requiring substitution, with Fabio Vieira taking his place. Arteta explained the situation, saying, "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." Adrien Thomasson had equalized for Lens before Saka's substitution. Elye Wahi later scored the winning goal for the hosts in the second half. "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."
READ ALSO
Tinubu Hosts Super Falcons Following WAFCON Triumph
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to host the Super Falcons at the Presidential Villa in Abuja afte...

READ ALSO
Nigeria, South Africa World Cup Qualifier Set for September 9 in Bloemfontein
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

FIFA has announced that South Africa's 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria will take pla...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Promises Grand Celebration as Super Falcons Clinch 10th WAFCON Title
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 27, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has promised the Super Falcons a grand celebration when they return from Moroc...

READ ALSO
Inter Miami Struggles Without Messi, Settles for 0-0 Draw Against FC Cincinnati
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 27, 2025 0

Inter Miami, missing the suspended Lionel Messi, failed to capitalize on an opportunity to close the...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Commends Super Falcons' Empathy and Performance Ahead of WAFCON Final
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 26, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has sent a message of support to Nigeria's Super Falcons, encouraging them to...

READ ALSO
Maduka Okoye Suspended for Two Months Amid Betting Scandal
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 23, 2025 0

Udinese and Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has received a two-month suspension from the Italian Fo...

READ ALSO
2025 African Karate Championship Kicks Off in Abuja: Four Categories, One Goal
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 21, 2025 0

More than 1,000 competitors from 31 nations have gathered in Abuja for the 2025 African Karate Champ...

READ ALSO
SSC Napoli Completes €25 Million Deal for Noa Lang from PSV
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 17, 2025 0

Serie A champions Napoli confirmed on Thursday that they have signed Dutch forward Noa Lang from PSV...

OUR CHANNELS:

FG Targets Two Million Jobs with Social Housing Programme
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

The Federal Government has set an ambitious target of creating over two million jobs throughout Nige...


Nigeria, South Africa World Cup Qualifier Set for September 9 in Bloemfontein
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

FIFA has announced that South Africa's 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria will take pla...


EU Reaffirms Support for Peace-building in Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

The head of the European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS,Reuben Alba,reaffirmed the EU's dedi...


Ogun Imams Raise Alarm over Proposed Daytime Curfew for Traditional Rites, Cite Constitutional Breach
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

The League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State raised concerns on Sunday regarding traditionalists' int...


Tinubu Promises Grand Celebration as Super Falcons Clinch 10th WAFCON Title
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has promised the Super Falcons a grand celebration when they return from Moroc...


NDLEA Uncovers Creative Concealment Methods, Nabs Chinese Businessman in Drug Busts
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has detained a Chinese businessman, Liang Tak You,...


Three Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza, Raising Toll to 462 Since Ground Offensive Began
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

The military reported that two Israeli soldiers lost their lives in combat in southern Gaza, on Sund...


Yilwatda's Emergence Rekindles Debate on APC's 2027 Muslim-Muslim Ticket
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

The rise of Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, a northern Christian from Plateau State, as the National Chairman...


Inter Miami Struggles Without Messi, Settles for 0-0 Draw Against FC Cincinnati
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 27, 2025 0

Inter Miami, missing the suspended Lionel Messi, failed to capitalize on an opportunity to close the...


Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Calls for Increased Funding Amidst Budget Constraints
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 27, 2025 0

The Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called for enh...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu