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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided Bukayo Saka's injury update ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk. The two sides will face off at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, October 22.
Bukayo Saka has been one of the mainstays for the Gunners ever since getting promoted to the senior side in 2019. In 236 senior games across competitions, the Englishman has registered 61 goals and 60 assists. This season, he has already racked up 10 goal contributions (three goals and seven assists) in as many games across competitions.
Saka suffered a right leg injury during England's 2-1 loss against Greece on October 10. He was forced to leave the pitch in the 51st minute and was replaced by Chelsea star Noni Madueke. He missed Arsenal's 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth on October 19.
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In a recent media interview (via GOAL), Mikel Arteta talked about the recovery journeys of a few Gunners stars, including Saka. He said:
"[Saka and Odegaard] are closer. They are both progressing really well. Martin is still not fit. Let's see how Bukayo is after the training session later on."
A report by The Telegraph's Sam Dean revealed that both Saka and Odegaard weren't present in the aforementioned training session on Monday morning. However, it might be possible that the two trained away from the group.
It will be interesting to see if Bukayo Saka starts for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Gunners are currently 13th on the UEFA Champions League table with four points in two games.
UEFA Champions League clash between Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk explained in numbers
Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk are evenly matched in terms of their head-to-head record in past Champions League games. The two teams have faced off four times in the past, with each winning two apiece. However, the visitors have been winless in their last seven away games against English opposition in the UEFA Champions League.
All four games between the two sides have produced a victory for the home team with the most recent encounter going 5-1 in favor of Arsenal.
The Gunners experienced their first Premier League defeat of the season in their last game against Bournemouth on Saturday, October 19. A 2-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium saw them remain in third place behind Liverpool and Manchester City. Shakhtar Donetsk, meanwhile, are fourth in the Ukraine Premier League table with 19 points in nine games.
The visitors would want to get their first Champions League win of the season against the Gunners. They registered a defeat and a draw in their first two games so far.
