Arteta speaks on Saka playing vs Chelsea

Arsenal will return to action this weekend when they make a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Ahead of the match, Arteta spoke on Bukayo Saka’s chances of playing vs Chelsea.

Saka was unavailable for Arsenal in their win against Manchester City after being forced off injured against Lens in the Champions League.

While it is believed that Saka has rested enough, Mikel, however, countered that the attacker still need time.

On his chances of facing Chelsea, Mikel said: “I’m sure he wants to play. I don’t see any player there that doesn’t want to be in the starting XI. He has been working so hard to be fit for this game and let’s see where he is at today. He had a couple of days off that he needed, but the rest unfortunately has not been rest for him because he needed the treatment and training to get ready to be available against Chelsea.

“I think we have to play him when we see he is in the right condition to play – mentally, physically and that he’s performing. He needs to deserve to play, that’s another story, but so far when he’s played that amount of minutes, it’s because we believe he was ready to cope with that.”