Mikel Arteta warned he will limit Bukayo Saka’s load after the winger was withdrawn as a precaution at half-time of Saturday’s win over Fulham. Saka had started but was taken off after 45 minutes in the league victory, having recently returned from an injury absence.

“We had to,” the Arsenal boss admitted. “He played 30-odd minutes in Madrid, now he’s played 45 minutes. We need to ramp up his load but we need to be careful because we need him on that pitch.” The remarks offered reassurance to supporters ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League second leg against Atlético Madrid, with the tie level at 1–1.

Saka’s return has coincided with a goal drought among Arsenal’s wide players. After his match-winning first-half contribution on Saturday he was replaced by Noni Madueke. The summer recruit enjoyed a bright start while filling in but has struggled for end product after extended minutes. Noni Madueke has not registered a goal or an assist against top-flight opposition since heading in the opener of a 1–1 draw with Brentford on Feb. 12, 2026.

Leandro Trossard may have created Gyökeres’s third goal against Fulham, but he is still waiting for his first strike of 2026; his last goal against top-flight opposition came on Dec. 30, 2025 versus Aston Villa. Gabriel Martinelli has gone more than three months without finding the net, his most recent goal against top-flight opposition coming on Jan. 28, 2026 versus Kairat.

During those scoring droughts for Arsenal’s wide players, Saka missed 10 matches through injury, which made his return particularly welcome. “We know what he’s capable of,” Arteta said. “He’s come back in the most important period of the season and now he’s fresh, his mind is fresh, his hunger is at the highest possible height and I think he needed a performance like that to impact the team, so that’s a big platform for Tuesday.”

Saka’s 22-minute cameo in the first leg in Madrid was described as a struggle to find the speed of the contest, and there is hope he will fare better with a start at the Emirates. Availability questions remain elsewhere: Martin Ødegaard missed Saturday’s league outing after reportedly suffering from knee discomfort during the first leg against Atlético.

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard was omitted from the starting line-up for the club’s meeting with Fulham after failing to recover from midweek discomfort. The Norway international was seen trudging off the pitch during the week and did not appear on Saturday, compounding concerns about his fitness.

When asked about Ødegaard’s availability before the game, Mikel Arteta offered only one brief response. “Let’s see,” was all the predictably cryptic Mikel Arteta offered when asked about Ødegaard’s involvement before the game.

Reports indicate the player withdrew against Atlético because of knee discomfort. That episode follows another knee problem that had already forced him to miss more than a month of action. This is the third knee injury of the season for Ødegaard; he also missed nearly two months across October and November. Whether those knee issues are linked has not been made public.

Overall, the captain has suffered seven injuries this season and has been limited to just 15 Premier League starts. Fifteen players have logged more minutes than Ødegaard for Arsenal this term. With the captain unavailable, Eberechi Eze took his place in the starting eleven for Saturday’s match.

Ødegaard contributed a lengthy matchday interview that offered little to suggest he expected to be sidelined. “Since the final whistle on Wednesday we’ve been looking forward to today’s game and concentrating on how we can get the three points,” he wrote.

“The energy is great at the training ground right now. I think everyone is feeling that we’re close to something really big and that gives you a bit of extra energy and extra fire every day in your work.

“We got a good result last weekend in our last game here at Emirates Stadium against Newcastle. It was an intense, tough game and the main thing was always to get the win and we managed that well. It’s always tough to play against Newcastle, they are a very physical and organised side. Obviously they have quality as well, so there’s going to be periods where they have the ball, but I thought we did well to get over the line and take another three points in a big game.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta offered a cautiously positive update after Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze picked up problems during Saturday’s Premier League win over Newcastle United.

Arteta played down the severity of both issues at the Emirates, saying the injuries were not believed to be serious and that the pair “could yet feature when Arsenal play the first leg of their Champions League semifinal against Atlético Madrid in the Spanish capital.” He told reporters: “They are muscular niggles, we don’t think it’s too much. We have to wait and see if they’re going to be available for Wednesday,”

Havertz left the field early after pulling up in the first half and walked straight down the tunnel. Eze required on-pitch treatment before taking a seat on the bench. After the game the match-winner told Sky Sports: “I’m alright. I’m all good, it was just a precaution. I didn’t want to do anything [more severe], I’ll be O.K.”

The optimism is tempered by recent history. Just last month, Eze dismissed concerns over any injury before being forced to sit out three games, including the Carabao Cup final, with a calf problem. Any absence for either player would harm Arsenal’s chances of ending a 22-year wait for a Premier League title and their bid to reach and win their first Champions League.

Viktor Gyökeres remained on the bench behind Havertz for a second successive match as Arteta persisted with the German as his centre forward. Gyökeres, signed so Havertz could occupy a deeper role, has struggled for impact against weaker opposition and is yet to score a non-penalty goal against any of the Premier League’s current top 10. Arteta picked Havertz as his No. 9 a week ago against Manchester City and again for the visit of Newcastle, with Gyökeres introduced only when the German could not continue.

The jury is still out on Eze following last summer’s $90 million (£67.5 million) transfer from Crystal Palace. He has scored five of his seven Premier League goals this season in just two matches against Tottenham Hotspur—and only two against anyone else.