Arsenal Faces Huge Saka Absence: How Will Arteta Cope?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces a major headache after confirmation that star forward Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” due to a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old picked up the injury during the first half of Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday and was pictured leaving Selhurst Park on crutches.
Saka’s Injury and Sterling’s Absence Leave Arteta Searching for Solutions
The injury to Saka, who has been instrumental in Arsenal’s prolific attacking display this season with nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions, coupled with Raheem Sterling’s likely several-week absence due to a knee injury sustained in training, presents a significant challenge for Arteta. “It means we’re going to be different,” Arteta admitted when discussing how he plans to fill the void left by Saka.
Tactical Shake-Up Expected
With Gabriel Martinelli a probable candidate to switch to the right wing, and Leandro Trossard likely to take his place on the left flank, Arteta is exploring various options to maintain Arsenal’s potent attacking force. “I haven’t got there yet but have a few ideas”, the manager revealed, expressing confidence in the existing players to fill the gap. He did, however, suggest reinforcements may not be on the agenda in January.
Exploring the Issue of Player Load
Arteta also addressed the increasing burden on players in the modern game, highlighting the demanding schedules that contribute to injuries. “We went through the period with Martin [Ødegaard, being injured] and the period with five, six defenders missing. The fact that you train and recover, that’s not a good pattern, he explained, emphasizing the importance of training alongside recovery for optimal physical performance
“Bukayo and Declan [Rice] played over 130 games [each] in the past two seasons,” he noted, questioning the sustainability of such heavy workloads. “Unless we find ways to physically turn them into monsters who can cope with anything.”
Calls for Schedule Reform
When asked about the possibility of schedule changes in light of the expanded Champions League and upcoming Club World Cup, Arteta expressed skepticism. “I hope they are listening”, he said, questioning the feasibility of implementing changes given the existing commitments. “Very challenging, very difficult I think”, he concluded.
Arteta Confident in Reset and Saka’s Return
While acknowledging the immediate difficulty, Arteta expressed confidence in how Arsenal will navigate this period. He highlighted Saka’s positive mental attitude despite the setback, stating “He will immediately realize that he is so important in that dressing room.” He added, “We need to lift him up. It is a big part of his job, and he will be fine but he is going to need a few days…
“He better do that well”