Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for Sunday’s crucial Premier League title clash with Manchester City, Mikel Arteta has confirmed.
The England international hasn’t played since the 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City on March 22, missing the losses against Southampton and Bournemouth as well as both legs of the Sporting CP Champions League quarter-final.
Arteta said before the Sporting second leg that he was hopeful Saka could return from his Achilles problem in “days not weeks” but confirmed during Friday’s press conference he would not feature against City.
“Bukayo is out, that is for sure,” the Arsenal manager said.
Noni Madueke was forced off during the second half of Wednesday’s draw with Sporting and Arteta said a late decision would be made on the England international ahead of Sunday’s fixture at the Etihad.
“We have another training session,” Arteta added. “It didn’t look that bad after the game. I am hopeful he can be available but we have to wait and see.”
With Saka out and Madueke a doubt, 16-year-old Max Dowman could be selected to start on the right for Arsenal against their Premier League title rivals.
Arsenal are six points clear of Manchester City as they bid to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title, but Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand and can narrow the gap with victory this weekend. Arteta said Dowman would be prepared for such an occasion.
“He will be ready,” the Arsenal head coach added. “You throw him in any context, you know what he is going to be delivering.”
After Saka was forced to withdraw from the England camp in March, national team boss Thomas Tuchel said: “They (Saka and Declan Rice) were in treatment but they both came. Bukayo did sessions in the gym to really try. They desperately wanted to be involved, but they were both clearly in discomfort.”
On April 14, Arteta said Saka’s injury was “something he was carrying a while. It was an Achilles issue. There is progression, but hopefully (he will be back in) days not weeks.”
Saka, 24, remains one of Mikel Arteta’s most trusted players, but has had to contend with various spells out through injury in recent seasons.
He tore his hamstring in December 2024, an injury that required surgery. Saka missed 101 days of action, returning on April 1, 2025. The winger sustained another hamstring injury in August 2025, but only missed three games.
Saka has scored nine goals and provided seven assists in all competitions this season, in what has been a down year for the forward in terms of goal contributions.
“I spoke to him,” Arteta said in early April when asked about Saka’s form. “I said: ‘In the end, everybody is going to remember what we’ve done in the last part of the season and in this final push of eight weeks, what we’re going to deliver individually, and that’s where now we can impact. I’m certain of that (he will find his best form).”
The England international signed a new four-year deal with Arsenal in February, committing his future to the north London club until at least 2030.
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