Mikel Arteta reveals Bukayo Saka latest in five-man Arsenal injury update for Man City clash | OneFootball

Gunners have some major question marks ahead of crunch title showdown at the Etihad

Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for their crucial Premier League showdown with Manchester City on Sunday.

Victory at the Etihad Stadium would move the Gunners nine points clear at the top of the table with only five games remaining.

However, if City were to win, as they did when the sides met in last month’s Carabao Cup final, Arsenal could be second by the time they next play.

Saka has not featured since that final defeat at Wembley due to an Achilles injury, and he remains sidelined for Sunday.

“Bukayo is out,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “That is for sure."

Asked whether Saka had returned to training, Arteta added: “He's just starting to do some stuff so let's see that progression, how quickly we can go through it and then wait. But at the moment it's not available.”

Arsenal are, though, hopeful that Noni Madueke will be available to face City.

The winger was forced off on Wednesday night in the Champions League with a knee issue.

Sidelined: Bukayo Saka will play no part for Arsenal against Manchester City this weekend

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However, he has avoided a serious injury and is believed to have suffered only a dead leg.

“We have another training session tomorrow,” Arteta said when quizzed on Madueke’s fitness. “It didn't look that bad after the game, he was quite positive.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard picked up another knee injury in the first leg against Sporting, which was only his second match back after six weeks out.

Odegaard wrote in his programme notes that the issue this time was not too bad.

Riccardo Calafiori has missed the last two matches with a knock, while a groin injury has kept fellow defender Jurrien Timber out since the win over Everton last month.

Asked about all three players on Friday, Arteta said: “We will try again. Some players are quite close but the turnaround is short.

“We will try tomorrow to push everybody and if they are in good position, they will be part of it.

Arsenal will definitely remain without Mikel Merino, who is working his way back following surgery on a rare and serious foot injury, but Declan Rice recovered from illness to start and captain the side against Sporting.

Carabao Cup final hero Nico O’Reilly has been passed fit for City after a hamstring issue suffered against Chelsea, but Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol remain out and John Stones is still a doubt.