Arsenal given huge Champions League boost despite Mikel Arteta injury concern

Mikel Arteta in Arsenal training at the Sobha Realty Training Centre (Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Bukayo Saka was spotted in training ahead of Arsenal's clash against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League. The Italian giants will lock horns with Mikel Arteta's side at the San Siro on Tuesday night as they each look to secure automatic qualification to the knockout stages.

The Gunners have won each of their six games in the 'league phase', and they're the only team to remain unbeaten. While Inter are currently sixth in the table, and six points adrift of Arsenal, they've lost their last two games in the competition.

José María Giménez nicked a stoppage time winner for Atletico Madrid in November before Dominik Szoboszlai scored a late penalty for Liverpool in December. Arteta will be hoping to pile on the misery and defend Arsenal's place at the top of the table.

On Sunday evening, following the goalless draw to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, the Spaniard cast doubt over Saka's involvement in the heavyweight clash. Speaking to reporters, Arteta claimed that the 24-year-old winger has been nursing a 'niggle'.

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"Bukayo had a lot of minutes and he had a niggle before the game so we need to manage our players," said the Gunners boss. "We have some fantastic players that can provide different things and we did try [to swap the wide-men] from the beginning.

"We tried after half-time as well, taking more risks and bringing in even more players in those attacking options. We tried in every way and it wasn't enough unfortunately."

At the weekend, Saka replaced Noni Madueke shortly before the hour-mark as Arteta pushed to snatch a winner. Arsenal were much improved with the Hale End graduate on the right, who nearly put the visitors ahead with a looping header .

Bukayo Saka in action for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest (Image: Getty Images)

Despite concerns that Saka could miss the game against Inter, he was involved in first-team training at the Sobha Realty Centre as normal on Monday afternoon. The England international didn't start the Gunners' last game in the Champions League, coming off the bench in a 3-0 away win over Club Brugge.

He did, however, start each of three previous matches, captaining Arsenal to victories against Bayern Munich, Slavia Praha, and Atletico Madrid. Back in October, Arteta claimed his side's strength in depth makes them better equipped to go the distance the Champions League.

The north Londoners reached the semi-finals last term before crashing out to the eventual winners, Paris Saint-Germain. The Arsenal boss said: "With all respect, last season we were looking (at the bench) and we had five academy players there, that probably never played professional football in the Champions League, so it makes a difference.

Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke have shared minutes on the right for Arsenal (Image: (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))

"We decided to change six players because I want everybody to really be involved and feel part of it, and it was great," continued Arteta. "The ones that came in again, they lifted the level, and they helped us to win the game, and that's great."

He added: "They know that they have a chance to play, to maybe make six changes and I want everybody to be a big part of that.

"The players came in as well to help the team when we were still lacking a bit of rhythm and needed to re-energise. Declan [Rice] comes in, Ebz [Eze], Bukayo, [Cristhian] Mosquera, Jurrien [Timber] - anybody that comes in and brings another dimension to the team."