Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka has missed the past few weeks through injury and he remains a fitness doubt for Sunday's trip to Manchester City
Bukayo Saka is facing an uphill battle in his race to prove his fitness in time for Arsenal's huge Premier League trip to Manchester City.
The England international is currently sidelined with an Achilles problem and has not featured for the Gunners since the 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to City on March 22.
While it's understood Saka is doing everything within his power to return to the pitch as soon as possible, the issue - thought to be Achilles tendinopathy - is delicate and if his recovery is rushed, there is risk Arsenal could end up losing him for the remainder of the season.
The 24-year-old was at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night and embraced his team-mates pitch-side after they booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals.
He is yet to be discounted from featuring this weekend but would need to progress and return to training in the coming days to stand a chance of making the cut.
Mikel Arteta said on Tuesday: "It's something that he was carrying for a while. It was an Achilles issue. It's progression but hopefully it's going to be a matter of days and not weeks. But he has to see when the load is more how he responds to that kind of progression."
Saka's deputy Noni Madueke was also forced off with a knee issue in the second half against Sporting CP, though there was cautious optimism the 24-year-old avoided injury as he did not head down the tunnel for treatment and later completed the team's lap of appreciation.
Meanwhile, sources close to left-back Riccardo Calafiori have indicated he has a chance of returning against City following his recent knock.
Calafiori was in a jovial mood at the Emirates last night and was spotted dancing near the players' lounge following his side's 0-0 draw with Sporting CP having picked up the problem during the first-leg.
Jurrien Timber was also in attendance and last Saturday following the 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth, he confirmed he was "recovering" as he walked past the mixed zone.
Timber refused to provide any clarity on when he could return from the groin injury which he sustained in the 2-0 home win over Everton on March 14.
When asked whether he might be available to face City, he replied coyly: "I can't say. But we'll see."
Captain Martin Odegaard confirmed in his Arsenal programme notes that he tweaked his knee during last week's 1-0 win over Sporting in Lisbon. The Norwegian made it clear he's striving to return as quickly as possible.