Arteta Confirms Saka And Rice Fit For Brentford Clash.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are fit and available for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brentford, much to the relief of the club’s supporters.
The England duo were instrumental in the Gunners’ 3-0 victory over Real Madrid earlier in the week, with Saka winning the free-kicks from which Rice scored twice. However, both players had to be withdrawn from the match after picking up minor knocks, raising concerns over their availability.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Arteta revealed that the injuries were not serious and that the players had recovered well. He explained that both incidents had been the result of simple knocks and that the two had responded positively to treatment. As a result, they would be available for selection against the Bees.
Arteta also gave an encouraging update on Riccardo Calafiori, who has been sidelined with a knee injury sustained during international duty. The Italian defender has missed recent matches against Fulham, Everton and Madrid, but Arteta stated that his recovery was progressing well. He admitted it was still difficult to provide a timeline for Calafiori’s return but said the player was in a good place and would soon be able to step up his training intensity.
Turning to Kai Havertz, who has been out since January following hamstring surgery, Arteta acknowledged there was hope the German forward could return before the end of the season. He pointed out that although the nature of each injury is different, Havertz shares Saka’s strong mindset and work ethic, which could boost his chances of a late-season comeback.
Arteta praised the club’s medical team and said that the final stages of rehabilitation would give a clearer picture of whether Havertz could feature again this term. While he remained cautious, he expressed a strong desire to see the forward back in action before the 2024/25 campaign concludes.
The update comes as a timely boost for Arsenal, who are looking to build on their impressive midweek performance and continue their pursuit of domestic and European success.
Credit: Arsenal.com
