October 21, (THEWILL) – Bukayo Saka will be available for Arsenal’s Premier League match against Aston Villa on Friday though he limped off in Monday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. After taking a significant whack to his right leg from James McArthur, the 20-year-old had to be replaced at halftime against the Eagles.
Many thought McArthur should have been sent off for the reckless nature of the tackle, including Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who was furious that referee Mike Dean only gave the Scot a yellow card.
“If we want to detect things that are really relevant in a game and can change a football match, then they have to be looked at,” Arteta said after the game, stunned that VAR Peter Bankes did not instruct Dean to change his decision.
“That situation is not only affecting them, but we have to take the player off because of the action so it is affecting it two different ways. It is not right. You [need to] make a straight decision, when it is so clear and so obvious straight away and they have to play with ten men.”
However, any fears that Saka will be out for an extended period of time have been allayed, and the England winger is in contention to start against Aston Villa at the Emirates on Friday following calf treatment – the first game of another hectic weekend of Premier League action.
The news is a huge boost for Arteta, who is slowly reviving his career in north London after a disastrous start to the season. As THEWILL reported, the Gunners lost their first three Premier League games and sat at the bottom of the table with Norwich, but they have since taken 11 points out of a possible 15.
On Monday, they took the lead against Palace thanks to captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, only to see Palace come back in the second half and turn the game around. Christian Benteke levelled the scores before Odsonne Edouard put Patrick Vieira’s men ahead, only for Arsenal substitute Alexandre Lacazette to equalise in stoppage time.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
