Mikel Arteta confirms Bukayo Saka injury latest as Arsenal boss delivers Premier League title race verdict

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal drew with Manchester United on Sunday

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is not expecting Bukayo Saka to follow Gabriel Martinelli’s lead and return ahead of schedule.

Martinelli, like Saka, had been due to return to action after this month’s international break following a hamstring injury picked up in early February.

The Brazilian, however, made his comeback on Sunday by coming off the bench for the final 30 minutes of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United.

Saka is also out with a hamstring injury – undergoing surgery in December – but Arteta is not expecting him back early.

“With Gabi it was a bit different the kind of injury that he had,” said Arteta.

“And we talked, I think last week, that he was much closer than B. After the international break let’s see where he (Saka) is.

“His progress is really good, he is really willing – as you can all imagine – so we are positive that in a few weeks hopefully he will be back.”

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The Gunners’ title charge is not mathematically over, but Liverpool are now 15 points clear of them in the Premier League table.

Arsenal have a game in hand on Liverpool, however they have just 10 matches to rein them.

“I don’t want to say that [the title race is over], but today the frustration is that we haven’t won our game,” said Arteta.

“We know the urgency and you’re obligated to win every single match. You won’t have any chance of doing that, I don’t think it’s the right moment to talk about that.

“Frustrating not to win the game, but with everything that we did, especially in the first half, it’s 43-44 minutes.

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“The dominance, how we dominate every aspect of the game, full control, we lacked a little bit in the last 15-20 metres, that showed to have more purpose, more direction, the last pass, the last action, but the game is clearly for us and going in the direction that we wanted.

“Unfortunately, one long ball, we don’t manage that ball well, we give it away, we create a foul, in a really dangerous area when you have to rely on them not taking advantage of the quality.

“That’s a really bad bet against Manchester United, they capitalised on that in the second half.”