Arsenal v Real Madrid: What Mikel Arteta has said about Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino injuries

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces the tricky task of managing first team injuries and fielding his best XI to take on European giants Real Madrid in a huge Champions League quarter final clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

Having dramatically fallen out of the Premier League title race with Liverpool in 2025, the Gunners’ last shot at silverware this season is the Champions League. There is just the small matter of overcoming trophy holders and 15-time winners Real Madrid over two legs.

Arsenal were boosted by the return of star man Bukayo Saka when the winger came off the bench to score in the meeting with Fulham last week. The England international hadn’t played since picking up a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace in December but had been enjoying a prolific season before that point with 10 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.

Will Bukayo Saka start for Arsenal against Real Madrid?

There were some worries with Saka only named on the bench against Everton again at the weekend, coming on at half time to get more minutes under his belt. After the match, Arteta was asked about his team selection, which also saw Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard on the bench.

He said: “There were four players who could not start the game after what happened with Fulham. There was obviously the injury to Gabi, that forces you as well to make some changes. Players are getting minutes. I’m very happy with that, everybody has to be important and feel important. We have so many games coming up right now and we have to rely on all of them.

“We thought this might be [making changes with Real Madrid in mind] but it’s not for what was happening on Tuesday. Some of them haven’t trained and haven’t had the opportunity to start the game.

“He [Saka] is in a much better place, he played 30 minutes and then 49 today. After that, he will be in a much better place.”

Arsenal appeared to get through the 1-1 draw with Everton without any fresh injuries. Saka was seen limping at one point having entered the field of play, but shook whatever that niggle was off quickly.

Mikel Merino update after Everton head injury

Mikel Merino, who was deployed in his more traditional central midfield role having been used as a makeshift striker recently, was in the wars against the Toffees. The Spaniard took a blow to the head which required treatment multiple times on Saturday afternoon.

There had been worries about the impact of that problem and potential concussion protocols but Arteta confirmed that was not the case. He said: “He’s fine. I just checked with the doctor. I think he had a cut and was bleeding quite a lot in the first half. Then he started again, so overall he wasn’t feeling anything.”

Leandro Trossard played through the middle in a fluid Arsenal front three against Everton, and was on target in that match. With Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz still out, it remains to be seen who Arteta will deploy in between the wingers against Real Madrid.

In other news, this is how the Arsenal players rated against Everton with one star awarded an impressive 9/10 in the draw.