Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed concern over injuries to key players Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, both of whom were forced off the pitch during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
“It doesn’t look good,” Arteta admitted, acknowledging the potential impact of their absences on the team’s performance and morale. “For two players of that importance to tell you they cannot continue in the game, obviously it’s not good news.”
Rice was replaced by Mikel Merino right after Pedro Neto’s equaliser for Chelsea with 20 minutes to go, while Saka went off for Gabriel Jesus 10 minutes later.
The Arsenal manager does not expect either player to take part in England’s upcoming games during the international break. The Three Lions visit Greece in a top-of-the-table group match in the Nations League on November 14th, followed by the match against Republic of Ireland three days later.