Arsenal’s Cup Clash Dilemma: Saka’s Fitness in Question and Merino’s Rare Injury
2 February 2026
Injury updates and cup prep
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta discussed Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino ahead of the Carabao Cup semifinal second leg with Chelsea at the Emirates. Arsenal lead 3-2 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, and the winner will face the victor of Manchester City vs Newcastle United in the final.
What Arteta said and what it means
“We have to wait,” Arteta said about Saka. “He was better today, but we will wait to see how he responds and then decide. It’s not too serious. We’ll know if he is available tomorrow or at the weekend.”
On Merino: “We hope he returns to training before the end of the season. He needs surgery, and the results aren’t always positive. He is very important, flexible across positions, and a big loss.”
“It’s a very rare injury, so we will monitor daily this week. I know he will do everything to return as soon as possible, but we must respect the healing process and the rarity of the injury; he is unlikely to be with us for the rest of the season.”
Regarding the winter transfer window: “Losing a big player four months from the end with all competitions to play, we must explore and do our best to find someone available. If we can’t, we’ll keep the current squad.”
“At this level, four months means immediate adaptation and impact, which is not easy. If it were easy, we wouldn’t be here. So we must find solutions.”
On Paul Merson’s claim that this week could crown the league champions, Arteta added: “We need 13 or 14 more matches like this to win the title. Every club knows the work ahead; we will keep going.”
“Tomorrow’s game is tough against a strong Chelsea side. We’re at home with a decent result, but there’s still a lot to do to secure the final.”
On Chelsea’s improvements under new boss Liam Rosinior: “Every team has its circumstances; Liam is doing great. Tomorrow’s match has a special context. We play at home and must make that advantage count in our approach to win.”
On Victor Giocares’s form, Arteta noted: “He’s more consistent in movement and defense and is becoming more effective in front of goal, helping us win more games.”
“We must keep players grounded: yes, that is the reality we face daily. They test the difficulty and level of this league, so they don’t dwell on the title.”
On building trust with the fans: “It’s about trust and daily cohesion—through behavior in victories and defeats, decisions made, and how the club sees you. I’m grateful for the support and interaction from our fans; tomorrow we’ll share a great night and create something special, all together.”
Punchlines:
If injuries were a transfer window, Arsenal would need a season-long loan to cover them—and the medical staff would still extend the loan.
The injury list at Arsenal is so long that the Emirates might qualify as its own postal code.
