Mikel Arteta addresses fears over Bukayo Saka ankle injury | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has reassured Arsenal fans that Bukayo Saka has not suffered lasting damage as a result of a "dangerous" tackle that forced the winger out of Sunday's win over Ipswich Town.

Saka was withdrawn just under an hour into the game, having been unable to shake off a nasty first-half challenge from Ipswich defender Leif Davis which led to a straight red card. The England star was seen with ice on his ankle on the bench and was limping when he boarded the team coach afterwards.

Concerns among supporters were understandably high given Saka's importance and the fact he has not long returned from a major injury absence.

"He cuts him from the back. I don't think it's intentional at all but obviously it's dangerous because he cannot really react to anything because you cannot see him coming," Arteta reflected, post-match.

"The referee made a decision, that is clear," the boss added, referencing Davis being shown a red card over the incident, which paved the way for Arsenal to eventually double their 2-0 lead.

Arsenal need Saka fit to face PSG in the Champions League / Julian Finney/GettyImages

"He was a bit sore but it's nothing serious, so that's good.

"I do [worry], especially with the numbers we have right now and especially when [tackles] are with your back to goal because normally it's the moment when the foot is planted, your weight is there and you cannot really react to it, but he's fine."

Saka played his first game of 2025 on 1 April when he appeared as a substitute in Arsenal's win over Fulham, having spent more than three months recovering from hamstring surgery. Yet just a week later, he terrorised Real Madrid in the decisive first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, before a goalscoring performance in a famous Gunners victory at the Bernabeu in the return.

Arsenal will see Liverpool win this season's Premier League title, potentially as soon as Wednesday if the Gunners lose to Crystal Palace, consigning them to second place for the third year in a row. But their chance of capturing a first ever Champions League trophy is very much alive as a semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain nears, and Saka’s fitness will be crucial to their prospects of success there.