Arsenal played out a frustrating 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest to go 13 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League. After the game, Mikel Arteta at least had some positive news to give about their injured players, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Arsenal Issue Update On Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli
What Did Mikel Arteta Say About Saka and Martinelli’s Fitness?
The English winger has been out of action since late December (2024) after sustaining a hamstring injury in their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Martinelli, on the other hand, has also missed the Gunners’ last three Premier League games with a similar issue.
Read More: Arsenal Defender Ruled Out For Rest Of The Season
Mikel Arteta was asked about whether Saka and the Brazilian winger can be expected to return to action sometime around April (2025). He replied: “I think so but again let’s see how they evolve in the next few weeks to make the right steps and then after that, they’ve been out for a long, long time, so we’re going to have to integrate them as well gradually.”
“They are evolving well, but they’re still a bit far. We have a meeting tomorrow to discuss where they are, especially Gabi, who probably has a chance before Bukayo to come in, but how soon that is, we’ll have to see how it evolves in the next week or 10 days.”
When Could Saka and Martinelli Be Back?
At this moment, going by the Spanish manager’s latest update, it’s evident that neither Saka nor Martinelli are going to immediately going to get back into action. If they are indeed back to fitness in April, that means the duo might end up missing quite a few more important matches for the Gunners.
Read More: Arsenal ‘Optimistic’ in Priority Talks Over New Long-Term Contract For ‘Extra Special’ Midfielder
Before the March international break, Arsenal face quite a few tricky games. That includes a double header against PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. They are also poised to face Manchester United (away) and Chelsea (home) before the upcoming international window. Arsenal definitely missed the attacking threat of Saka and Martinelli against Nottingham Forest. The young duo have impressed this season, with Saka having 22 goal contributions (nine goals, 13 assists) and Martinelli having 11 contributions (seven goals, four assists), combining to have 33 goal contributions for Arteta’s side before their injury blows.
