"Quite close..." - Mikel Arteta provides mixed injury update ahead of Man City vs Arsenal | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided some mixed injury news ahead of his side’s huge game away to Manchester City this weekend.

The Gunners take on City at the Etihad Stadium for what is being billed by many as a Premier League title decider, with so much at stake in this closest of title races.

Unfortunately for Arteta, he’ll have to take on Pep Guardiola’s side without Bukayo Saka, who he says is definitely unavailable for the trip to Manchester.

See below as Charles Watts has the key updates from Arteta’s press conference today, with slightly more hopeful news on the likes of Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber, who have not yet been completely ruled out…

Mikel Arteta on Arsenal injuries ahead of Man City clash

On Saka’s injury, Arteta said: “Bukayo is out, that’s for sure. He’s just starting to do some stuff, but at the moment he’s not available.”

On a more positive note, though, the Spanish tactician did suggest Noni Madueke could be available to fill in for Saka on that right-hand side, whilst also suggesting later calls would be made on Odegaard, Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori.

“We have another session tomorrow. It didn’t look that bad after the game, I’m hoping he (Madueke) could be available,” he added.

“We will try again. Some players are quite close. We will try tomorrow to push everybody,” he said when asked about Odegaard, Timber, and Calafiori.

Manchester City also have a few players out

City also have some injuries, even if it’s quite clearly not as bad for them as it is for Arsenal.

It will be intriguing to see how both teams line up, what kind of tactics they use, and who comes away from the game closer to winning the title.