Arsenal have suffered a blow on the final day of the Premier League season. Bukayo Saka was ruled out of the match against Everton with a muscle injury.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Saka picked up an injury in training and was unavailable for the final match of the season. The Gunners were looking to go into the game with full force to give it their final push for the Premier League title.
The London side will now have to take the pitch without their star man. Arteta has called up Gabriel Martinelli to the starting XI in place on the Englishman.
The Arsenal manager, who was forced to make changes to his starting XI for the first time in 5 games, told the media:
“Unfortunately he picked up a small muscle injury in training and he wasn’t available to play. Fortunately, we have some great players and Martinelli steps in and we need to win anyway.”
When quizzed about Saka, Arteta added that the winger was gutted to miss out. He said:
“He’s been incredibly consistent throughout the season & he’s always been available. He was gutted last night when he got that injury.”
Saka has scored 16 goals and assisted 9 times in the Premier League this season. The Englishman is Arsenal’s top scorer and assist provider having played 35 of the 37 matches so far.
Arsenal are two points behind Manchester City going into the final game of the season. The Gunners can win the title if they beat Everton and Pep Guardiola’s side drop points to West Ham United.
Arsenal starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
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