HUGE BLOW 》Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal injury update on Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice after Real Madrid clash

Latest Arsenal news as updates on Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice’s injuries emerge shortly after the 3-0 win over Real Madrid

Bukayo Saka was forced off for Arsenal against Real Madrid

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both suffered problems in Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg.

The Gunners defeated the Spanish giants 3-0 thanks to two superb free-kicks by Rice and Mikel Merino’s sixth goal of 2025. It means they have one foot in the semi-final heading into next week’s second-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, both Rice and Saka were forced off in the second-half after receiving treatment by club physio Simon Murphy. Saka, who started for the first time since returning from his hamstring injury, came off in the 74th minute before Rice followed him six minutes later.

Both players were spotted walking fine around the Emirates Stadium at full-time but Arteta was asked about the severity of their individual problems in his post-match press conference. “Yeah I think Dec had an issue with the foot,” the Spaniard said.

“Bukayo after he got tackled from the foul, he had a knock. It doesn’t look serious.”

Saka only returned to action seven days ago when he came off the bench and scored in the 2-1 win over Fulham. He played over 45 minutes in the 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday before starting against Madrid.



Declan Rice came off or Arsenal after receiving treatment (Image: Getty Images)

The forward had been sidelined with a serious hamstring injury picked up in the win over Crystal Palace before Christmas. His return has been a boost for Arteta, who has been forced to use a makeshift attack throughout the second half of the season.

Rice has only missed three games in the Premier League and Champions League for the Gunners this season. This weekend, the north Londoners take on Brentford (5.30pm kick-off) and Arteta could rest the duo ahead of the trip to Madrid next week.

Arteta will face the media at the end of the week for his pre-Brentford press conference, where an update on Saka and Rice is expected to be given.