Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hopeful that the injury that forced Bukayo Saka off midway through the first half of the 5-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest is not serious enough to keep him out of the World Cup in Qatar.
Saka set up Arsenal's opener for Gabriel Martinelli, but was felled by Forest left-back Renan Lodi shortly afterwards. He tried to continue before asking to be replaced in the 27th minute.
It will leave England manager Gareth Southgate sweating three weeks before the start of the World Cup, where Saka could be a key figure for England, but Arteta was optimistic when asked if the injury was serious.
"Hopefully not. It was a bad kick," he said. "He was limping ... he got kicked a few times."
Saka's replacement, Reiss Nelson, made his first Premier League appearance since August 2021, and netted twice in three minutes in the second half for a blockbuster display.
"I'm happy for him, he's a player that is really trying hard," Arteta said. "He has changed and evolved a lot, even though he has not had minutes.
"We have different threats and different players that can score. That is really positive. "
Nelson said: "It was amazing ... everyone got into the game and it was great to play in."
Gabriel Jesus did not score but he did lay on two assists that helped Arsenal return to the top of the table, two points ahead of Manchester City.
"It is great to be there," said Arteta of the Gunners topping the table.
Bukayo Saka falls after a tackle by Nottingham Forest's Renan Lodi. AP
