Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Bukayo Saka has not sustained a serious injury in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old set up Leandro Trossard for the opening goal on the 29-minute mark before getting his own name on the scoresheet midway through the second half to help secure a dominant victory for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Saka was withdrawn in the final five minutes and gingerly made his way to the substitutes' bench after he landed awkwardly on his ankle following an aerial challenge.
The English winger initially attempted to carry on after receiving treatment, but he hit the deck just a few minutes later before Arteta made a swift decision to take him off.
Saka has established himself as an integral player for Arsenal in recent seasons and has impressed once again so far this term with six goals and seven assists in 16 appearances across all competitions.
© Reuters
Arsenal's No.7 missed two games earlier this season with a hamstring problem, and his latest withdrawal due to injury has raised concerns over another potential spell on the sidelines.
However, Arteta has reassured Gunners supporters that Saka has only sustained "a knock" and could therefore be available for selection against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arteta has also confirmed that defender Takehiro Tomiyasu was replaced by Oleksandr Zinchenko at half time after he was experiencing discomfort with an unspecified issue.
"Takehiro Tomiyasu was feeling something so we didn't want to take a risk. Bukayo Saka, it's a knock," Arteta told TNT Sports after the game. "Hopefully they are good because we are missing some players."
Speaking at a post-match press conference, as quoted by the Metro, the Gunners boss added: "At the end, [Saka] was uncomfortable to carry on so hopefully it's not big. I want to believe that he will be OK."
Arteta has also provided a fitness update on Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah, who both missed the win over Sevilla with respective hip and ankle problems.
© Reuters
Odegaard also missed last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United in the Premier League, a game in which Nketiah was forced off in the closing stages and was subsequently replaced in the starting lineup by Trossard against Sevilla.
"They're [Odegaard and Nketiah] racing against the clock to be fit," said Arteta. "They tried their best to be fit tonight. It wasn't possible. We will try again against Burnley and we will see."
Odegaard and Nketiah were two recent additions to Arsenal's packed treatment room that also includes Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe and Jurrien Timber.
While Partey (muscle), Jesus (hamstring) and Smith Rowe (knee) are all unlikely to make a comeback until December at the earliest, Timber is facing a race against time to return before the end of the season as he continues to recover from an ACL injury.
Arsenal's victory over Sevilla has helped them consolidate top spot in Group B of the Champions League, sitting four points clear of PSV Eindhoven in second, and the Gunners require just one more point from their final two fixtures to secure their place in the last 16.
Oliver Thomas
