Mikel Arteta says he does not expect Bukayo Saka or Declan Rice to be fit for England’s upcoming Nations League games after they were forced off during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday.
Saka, 23, limped off with a muscle issue 10 minutes before full time and will now be assessed by the club’s medical team ahead of England’s Nations League double header against Greece and the Republic of Ireland next week.
Rice, 25, started at Stamford Bridge despite missing Wednesday’s defeat to Inter in the Champions League but had to be replaced by Mikel Merino 71 minutes into the game.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said: “It doesn’t look good because two players of that importance tell you that they cannot continue in the game, so it obviously isn’t good news.”
Asked whether the duo will report for international duty on Monday, he replied: “I don’t expect them to be fit, because if they were, they wouldn’t have come off.”
England travel to group leaders Greece on Thursday before hosting the Republic of Ireland three days later at Wembley.
Arsenal, fourth in the Premier League after Sunday’s draw in south west London, resume their campaign at home to Nottingham Forest after the end of the upcoming international break.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
