Mikel Arteta Issues Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard Injury Updates After Leeds United Win

• Mikel Arteta has provided worrying updates on the severity of the injuries suffered by Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard
• The Arsenal captains were withdrawn during their game against Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday
• The Gunners won the game 5-0 with Viktor Gyokeres and Jurrien Timber each bagging a brace ahead of the trip to Liverpool

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has provided the injury updates of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard after their win over Leeds United.

The Gunners were ruthless on Saturday evening at the Emirates Stadium, putting five past the hapless promoted side, to make it two out of two wins in the new season.

Arsenal confirm Ebere Eze signing before Leeds trashing

The evening started on a positive note after the club officially confirmed the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace.

Eze was roped in on a priority basis after Kai Havertz sustained an injury that will keep him out for an extended period.

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The England international walked out to greet the fans before kick-off, before retreating to the director's box where he watched his new side put Leeds United to the sword.

How did Saka, Odegaard get injured?

However, that five-star performance was dampened by the fact that two of Arsenal's key players, Saka and Odegaard, were withdrawn early from the game.

Captain Odegaard was the first one to walk off after landing awkwardly on his shoulder. He was replaced by Ethan Nwaneri in the 38th minute after failing to shake it off.

Saka came off seven minutes after the restart after he appeared to pull his hamstring. Leandro Trossard took his place.

Arteta provides worrying Saka, Odegaard injury update

Speaking after the game, Arteta provided an update on both players, even as they waited for a full doctor's report.

"That's the negative. Martin felt something in his shoulder; we will have to scan that tomorrow. Bukayo felt something in his hamstring when he was running with the ball. We will have to speak with the doctors tomorrow. So just wait, but for Bukayo to come off, it has to be something significant," he said as quoted by Football London.

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It should be remembered that it was a hamstring injury that kept Saka out of action for the better part of last season.

The former Manchester City assistant boss then admitted that they had learnt their lesson last season by bolstering their squad depth in case of injuries to key players.

"Well, you just have to see the evolution and the way the team played the number of minutes in 2023/24. Last year, it was different with the amount of injuries, and the start has not been good in that sense, but we have more this time."

The injuries come at a time when Arsenal will face another acid test in their next game when they travel to Merseyside to play the reigning champions, Liverpool, on Sunday, before the first international break.

Who scored Arsenal's goals vs Leeds United?

Fresh from their hard-fought opening day win against Manchester United, the Gunners picked up from where they left off.

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Jurrien Timber bagged an unlikely brace, with both coming from Arsenal's chaotic yet brilliant set-piece routines.

The other major headline was the new number 9, Viktor Gyokeres, getting his first goals for the club, including one from the penalty spot, won by 15-year-old Max Dowman.

Before his injury, Saka was also among the goals, firing a ferocious shot that Lucas Perri in the Leeds goal could do nothing about.

Supercomputer predicts 2025/2026 Premier League winner

In a related story, we reported that Opta's supercomputer predicted the 2025/26 Premier League winner.

Liverpool are the top favourites, with a 28.5% chance of retaining the title following their strong performance last season in Arne Slot's debut season.

The Gunners have been given a 24.3% chance, while Manchester City are at 18.8%

Source: TUKO.co.ke