Arsenal take on Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon at the Etihad, and manager Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update ahead of the clash.
The Gunners edged past Sporting in midweek, progressing into the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second consecutive season – the first time they’ve achieved this in their history. A last-four tie against Atletico Madrid awaits Arteta’s side, although their attentions now turn back to domestic action and Sunday’s pivotal clash with their title rivals, City.
Pep Guardiola’s side are in impressive form, winning their last three games against the Gunners, Liverpool and Chelsea respectively, without conceding. They can close the gap to Arsenal to just three points with a victory this weekend, and thus, the North Londoners will feel they need to emerge from Manchester with a point at the very least.
Mikel Arteta issues injury update on Bukayo Saka before Man City vs Arsenal
Several players in Mikel Arteta’s squad are fighting their way back to full fitness, and it’s the same names who are still doubts heading to the Etihad.
A report emerged on Thursday indicating that Saka has a chance of featuring in the north-west, with the winger recovering from an Achilles issue. He hasn’t played since the Gunners last met City, in the Carabao Cup final last month, but could now make his return on Sunday.
That said, there have also been indications that the specific Achilles issue he’s dealing with could rule him out for a period significantly longer than Sunday. Arteta has consistently remained coy on the wide man’s fitness situation, and he didn’t really provide a more concrete update in his press conference on Friday afternoon.
“Bukayo is out, that’s for sure,” he said.
“He’s just starting to do some stuff, but at the moment he’s not available.”
Mikel Arteta provides Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori injury update
Saka isn’t the only Arsenal player desperately fighting to be available for Sunday. Noni Madueke, who limped off the pitch against Sporting in midweek, is understood to be likely to feature at the Etihad despite this minor setback.
“We have another session tomorrow. It didn’t look that bad after the game, I’m hoping he could be available,” Arteta said on Madueke.
The England international’s situation looks more promising than the Gunners’ other injured soldiers. Martin Odegaard vowed to return as quickly as possible earlier this week, but the Norwegian is yet to be pictured in an Arsenal training session since he sustained a knock away in Lisbon last week. He’s not expected to be ready to play at the Etihad.
Martin Ødegaard arriving to Arsenal training today. 👀👋 pic.twitter.com/UBelWuaZTA
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) April 17, 2026
Meanwhile, Jurrien Timber still hasn’t played since before the international break, and questions are being raised over the nature of the Dutchman’s issue, given Arteta has persistently suggested that he’s close to a return.
Riccardo Calafiori also remains a doubt, with the Italian struggling with an unspecified injury. According to Premier Injuries, Calafiori is set to face a late fitness test to determine his availability.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday, Arteta was asked to provide a general update on all of these absentees.
“We will try again,” he said.
“Some players are quite close. We will try tomorrow to push everybody.”