Mikel Arteta has lashed out at claims Bukayo Saka wasn’t injured when he withdrew from England duty, claiming he will “send an MRI” to anyone doubting the validity of Arsenal’s claims.
Saka, who the Gunners said was struggling with a groin issue suffered in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea before the international break, scored a wondergoal and assisted another as Arsenal thrashed Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Having inflicted the visitors’ first away defeat of the Premier League season, Arteta jumped to the defence of his star player and insisted he was willing to show proof the 23-year-old winger had been genuinely hurt.
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The Spanish manager said: “Well we can send an MRI scan, it’s very simple. That’s a communication that was very clear between the medical staff of Arsenal and England.
“He hasn’t done anything, he was away and needed time to heal. He’s done one training session.”
(Image: PA)
Following an inspired showing from midfield maestro Martin Odegaard, Arteta praised the Norwegian, adding: “Without this kind of player in the team it was always quiet.
“It doesn’t surprise me because I see him every day. When he’s in the team, you can sense something that is different. It’s difficult to put a finger on it.
“There was something different 48 hours before the game too, we had 19 players training and it was so competitive.”
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Referring to how well Saka and Odegaard link-up on the pitch, Arteta said: “That’s chemistry, sometimes you meet somebody, straight away you make eye contact and something flows. That’s the case with those two.
“That’s what’s happened, it happens off the field, it happens on the field and with many others as well. That’s something in football that is very difficult to say.
“But when you put them together in the right spaces, things flourish and things happen naturally. With others, you try to force it and it doesn’t work. With these two we are very lucky to have them.”