Morning, Arsenal fans
Mikel Arteta insisted injury victim Bukayo Saka was “fine” and hailed Fabio Vieira’s star man performance as Arsenal KO’d Oxford United 3-0.
Mo Elneny’s 63rd-minute opener and a clinical double from Eddie Nketiah set up an FA Cup fourth-round trip to Manchester City.
And boss Arteta suggested Saka has no serious problem, despite the England wideman being replaced late on by returning midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
The Spaniard also saluted Portuguese playmaker Vieira for grabbing his huge chance to impress.
Arteta said: “He has the quality. He is a really creative player and he can decide games in the final third. He made a difference.”
And of Nketiah, he added: “It is what we want from every player. I am delighted. You have to be scoring goals and he is doing it.”
But Arteta is still understood to want more firepower for his Premier League leaders as crocked Gabriel Jesus faces at least two more months out.
It’s Chelsea, though, who look set to win the Prem race for Joao Felix – ahead of the Gunners and Manchester United.
Barcelona’s Holland attacker Memphis Depay is being talked up again as a possible alternative for Arsenal.
Finally, the Gunners and Manchester City are reportedly monitoring PAOK Salinika’s Greek midfielder Giannis Konstantelias, 19.
