Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice’s injuries ‘not looking good’: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the injuries to English duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are “not looking good” after they were taken off injured during Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

Rice, playing with a broken toe, was taken off in the 71st minute before Saka was taken off after receiving treatment for a leg injury 10 minutes later.

“It doesn’t look good, because having two players of that importance tell you that they can’t continue in the game is not good news.” Arteta said.

Arsenal have had to deal with a series of injuries to key players this season and Saka also missed two games after picking up an injury playing for England in the last international break.

Both Saka and Rice are in interim coach Lee Carsley’s England squad for next week’s Nations League matches. England will play in Greece on Thursday 14 November before hosting the Republic of Ireland three days later at Wembley.

But Arteta is unsure whether the pair will be able to join the national team.

“I don’t know whether to expect them to be fit because if not they won’t recover,” he said.

“What I am praying is that after the international break we have the team fully equipped physically, that they are available and fit, because it has been a nightmare for eight weeks.”

Martin Odegaard started his first game in two months for Arsenal and played the entire game. Arteta said he will speak to his captain about a possible Norway international call-up.

Arsenal go into the international break nine points off the top of the Premier League table and are winless in five games in all competitions.