Mikel Arteta issues Bukayo Saka injury update ahead of Arsenal vs Crystal Palace (2025)

Mikel Arteta insists Bukayo Saka is in contention to feature in Arsenal’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Saka was on the receiving end of a late tackle from Leif Davis during the first half of Arsenal’s 4-0 win away to Ipswich on Sunday.

Davis was sent off in the 32nd minute after catching the Arsenal winger on his right ankle.

Saka came out for the second half but was replaced after just 57 minutes and was seen on the bench with ice on his injury.

‘We have to wait and see how he reacts after the session but it’s nothing too serious,’ Arteta said on Tuesday.

Asked if there is a ‘good chance’ that Saka could play against Palace, Arteta said: ‘Yeah, if we want to he will have a good chance to play tomorrow.’

Arteta also confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori and Jorginho will miss Wednesday’s game.

‘Yeah, Ricci is out, Jorgi unfortunately as well, I think Jorgi will be out for a few weeks,’ Arteta said.

After Wednesday’s game against Palace, Arsenal will have a free weekend before the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain next Tuesday.

Asked if he is tempted to protect some of his key players ahead of their game against PSG next week, Arteta replied: ‘We cannot think in those terms.

‘I think when the players are fit and they are available and they want to play, they have to play.

‘They are at their best when they are playing and they have consistency in their performances.

‘Physically they are good, emotionally they are good, their understanding and their rhythm and the way they make decisions is at their best. That’s what we need [from] the players.

‘If they are not available, there’s no discussion. If they’re not in good condition to perform, we’re not going to play them. But if they are, we are going to play them.

‘There’s always a balance and obviously you want to balance the risk and make sure you’re sensible with your decision making.

‘But that’s what we have as well, we have very top staff to guide us and tell us what we should be doing and what are the risks.

‘Unfortunately in football anything can happen, the game starts and when the game finishes, to write the story of what should have happened is easy – do it before.’

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