by Mikel Areta enjoyed a “beautiful” comeback by Bukayo Saka in Arsenals 2-1 victory against Fulham in the Premier League, but the shine that took the evening when Gabriel Magalhães and Jurriën Timber had suffered injuries.
Saka scored the second goal of Arsenal in 73 minutes after he came from the armpit inhibition in the 66th minute for his first action from the upper limit on December 21. He ran to the bank to celebrate Sam Wilson with one of the club’s performance coaches.
Related: Saka’s Arsenal return drops Fulham, but Gabriel and wood contribute to the injury crisis
But with the quarter -finals of the Champions League against Real Madrid, the last thing that was needed by Areteta threatened more fitness problems. Gabriel was forced with a thigh problem, while wood could not end the game due to pain in the knee. Areta saw Riccardo Calafiori damaged his knee in international service with Italy, while reporting that Ben White also had a knee injury. The first leg against Madrid will take place next Tuesday in the Emirates Stadium.
“It was a nice moment to see how much our people loved Bukayo, respected and admired,” said Areta. “The best example is his reaction. What does he do immediately according to a goal?
“The disadvantage is Gabi and Jurriën. We do not know how they will be. We will judge them tomorrow to understand better how we are with these two. There are two players in this team who never want to come to terms with, and they are probably. Gabi felt something in his thigh. [but] At some point he couldn’t.
“Calafiori, Ben White, Jurriën and Gabriel Magalhães – you can imagine [how I feel] With these four players in the line of defense in a week. We have another four who are so bloody that they will do their work. “
Areta said he had never known a worse season for injuries. “The good thing is that it was the same all the season. You see [Gabriel] Martinelli today … we missed him for three months. You see Bukayo, Kai [Havertz] Four months. Gabi Jesus, almost the whole season … it is what it is. We want it so much that we will do it real and we are very happy about the next week. “
