Arsenal host Everton at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow, with Saka’s fitness remaining a major concern following his recent injury. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta confirmed that the winger would undergo further scans before the club could determine the full extent of the problem.
The Arsenal manager also discussed the development of his younger players, the impact of substitutes, Declan Rice’s leadership and the challenges of competing with limited recovery time between matches.
Arteta confirmed that further medical examinations would be required to establish the severity of Saka’s injury.
“He’s got another MRI this afternoon because he had quite a lot of fluid in the area, so it was difficult to understand the extent of the injury. We’ll know more probably tomorrow.”
Asked how serious the injury might be, Arteta admitted that the initial signs were concerning.
“When a player has to walk off the pitch, is struggling to walk without pain and has restricted movement, they are not good signs. We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialist. Let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive assessment.”
The Arsenal boss also dismissed any suggestion that Saka’s ability to drive an automatic car had an impact on his condition, joking: “He’s not changing gear? I’m happy that he can drive.”
Arteta insisted that the club must carefully manage the winger’s recovery, particularly given the physical demands of modern football.
“He’s certainly been different in the last year or so, but the demands on players are immense with club and international competitions. The time between games is getting narrower. There are less than 66 or 67 hours between games, and every hour is important.”
Despite concerns about fatigue, Arteta said he did not believe Saka was suffering from burnout.
“I don’t have that feeling at all, but certainly what we have to be very mindful of is creating the right ecosystem around a player to maximise his qualities. We need to understand what he’s capable of sustaining when he comes back.”
Arteta also explained how he wants Saka to respond mentally while recovering from injury, stressing that the team’s collective focus must remain on the upcoming fixture.
“Today, it’s just thinking: ‘How can I help the team?’ I already told him to go into that building and be the first one there with a good spirit and energy, because that’s what the team needs.”
He added that constantly asking the winger about his condition would not help the squad.
“If everybody’s like, ‘Bukayo, how are you? Are you sick? Are you OK?’, that’s exactly what we don’t need. If this is what it is, this is part of our job. We have good and bad results, defeats and problems. We need to deal with that.”
Arteta concluded by emphasising the importance of maintaining a positive atmosphere before the match.
“What we certainly can do is dominate the narrative from here to the Everton game together, with the best energy and spirit to go and win the game again.”
The Arsenal manager spoke highly of Everton boss David Moyes, describing him as a respected figure in English football and an outstanding coach.
Asked whether Moyes was the king of the Premier League, Arteta replied: “100%. I don’t know if it’s the king or what it is, but he’s certainly someone that I think we all look up to.”
He continued: “Not only for his longevity, but for what he represents for the game, what he represents for the Premier League and his trajectory.
“For me especially, because I know the man behind the coach, which is the most important thing. And then I really know the coach as well, and he’s a superb coach.”
Arteta expects a difficult encounter against Everton, pointing to their organisation and individual quality.
“There are a lot of threats because I know David so well and how he sets the team, the quality they have in their organisation and individually. It’s no coincidence they didn’t lose before their last game.
“They have a really good team, which we know because in recent clashes, it’s always been a really difficult game for us.”
Arsenal’s squad depth has been a key talking point, and Arteta expressed satisfaction with the mentality and unity of his players.
“We have really good options because they’re in the right mindset. I’m extremely proud of the chemistry and the desire we have created among the players who both start and finish the game.”
He pointed to Eberechi Eze as an example of how substitutes can make a decisive contribution despite personal disappointment.
“Eze could have been upset, and certainly was, when he was substituted after 45 minutes at Forest. Then he came in and made the impact he did on Wednesday. That’s exactly what you need.”
Arteta stressed that having talented players on the bench is not enough on its own.
“You can have a bench that is as strong as you want, but they have to give you what you need.”
The Arsenal manager also praised Eze’s response following the previous match, saying he was extremely pleased with the midfielder’s contribution to the team’s performance.
Asked about his conversation with Eze before sending him on against Bayern Munich, Arteta kept the details private.
“I think that stays between him and me on why I did it, and that’s it. But I think we get the best version of Eze when he’s laughing, he’s happy and he’s himself.”
Arteta added that understanding players on a personal level is essential to getting the best out of them.
“The more we connect with our players and know how they are feeling, the more we can create that emotional connection. When you feel understood, listened to and important, I think that’s crucial to getting performances.”
Declan Rice’s influence has also impressed Arteta, particularly in terms of emotional control and leadership.
Asked about Rice’s development in this area, the Arsenal manager said:
“I really see a step there on emotional dominance and control of Declan. It’s something that I demand him to do because I know the person, I know the charisma.”
Arteta believes Rice has an important role to play in maintaining the team’s standards when results or performances fall below expectations.
“It’s very important to set the bar, especially when things are not where we want them to be and we are still chasing to generate that belief and conviction in the team. I think he’s done that really, really well.”
The Arsenal boss also wants his midfielders to contribute more goals, stressing that their attacking responsibilities depend on the roles they are given.
“Martin [Odegaard] has already scored a few goals, Bruno [Guimaraes] has done the same, Declan has done the same. We need them to have that licence and especially the aggression to penetrate and damage the opposition.”
Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the progress of Arsenal’s younger players, highlighting Myles Lewis-Skelly’s performance against Bayern Munich.
“It’s extremely fulfilling, because when you’ve personally had this experience and this trust and belief from somebody, it’s exactly what you need. But actually, then you have to go out on the pitch and perform like you belong at that level.”
He added: “Against Bayern, I really liked the way Myles came in. The composure, the presence and the way he helped the team establish itself in the final third and play with so much personality. It’s another big step.”
Arteta also confirmed that Max Dowman would receive further opportunities.
“He’s training, and every time he’s got a moment to play, he’s showing that he’s a player who is going to impact the game. For sure, he’s going to have minutes.”
The manager acknowledged that a potential start against a team Dowman had previously scored against would make for a compelling story, adding that it would be even better if Arsenal secured the victory.
Arteta addressed Martin Zubimendi’s recent lack of playing time, explaining that an injury had disrupted the midfielder’s opportunities.
“He had a few, then he had the injury. It’s true that he had one game where he was almost fully available to play some minutes, not to start the game.”
The Arsenal manager said Zubimendi would need to earn his place while also making clear that he valued the midfielder’s contribution.
“I need to find the right games to give him the opportunity, and I know when I do that, what his response is going to be. But he’s been exceptional, whatever the role that he had to assume.”
Arteta added: “He’s a player that deserves more minutes at the moment.”
The manager also confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie were available for the Everton match, with both players in contention for selection.
Arsenal face a demanding schedule, with three matches in six days, and Arteta acknowledged the difficulties involved in preparing players for such a period.
“We’re having three games in six days, so we know what’s happening, especially when the games are so demanding and the necessity is to win. We prepare the players for those scenarios and do the best we possibly can.”
The manager reiterated that the limited recovery time between fixtures was a concern for every club and called for greater support for players facing increasingly intense schedules.
Arteta also addressed criticism and changing opinions about Arsenal’s performances, arguing that football naturally produces emotional reactions.
“You have to respect every opponent. It would be good to be a bit consistent, but it’s understandable. It’s a game where we are passionate and emotional with what we’ve just seen.”
He added that Arsenal’s responsibility was to maintain their standards and provide consistent excitement for supporters.
“Our job is to create constant excitement. The opponent has a lot to do with how they want to play. It’s inevitable, but it’s on us.”
Asked whether he would prefer opponents to attack Arsenal rather than sit back defensively, Arteta explained that teams would always adapt their approach according to the circumstances.
“Every team is going to prepare in the best way with how they think they can beat us, like we do with the opponent. You could have an open chance in the first 10 minutes that changes the game, and then the next 80 minutes are different because of the context.”
He concluded: “Results have a huge impact on how teams behave. We need to be able to win and enjoy as much as possible in every context.”
Arteta finished by stressing that resilience and the ability to overcome difficult situations would be essential if Arsenal were to maintain their ambitions this season.
“We know what the expectations are. We prepare and face each opponent, regardless of who it is, to beat them. That’s the objective and the focus.”
He acknowledged that unexpected problems would inevitably arise during matches but insisted that the squad must be equipped to respond.
“Things can happen throughout a game, things that we don’t expect, things that we don’t like, things that we have to overcome. So be it.
“If you want to win a lot of matches, you’re going to have to face so many different kinds of situations, and I think the team is ready to do that.”
Arsenal will now turn their attention to Everton, with Saka’s availability still uncertain and Arteta demanding the same focus, energy and resilience from his squad as they prepare for another important Premier League test.