Arsenal are on the lookout for someone who can step up for Bukayo Saka in the player’s absence.
Saka won’t feature until March after sustaining a severe hamstring injury against Crystal Palace in December.
Mikel Arteta has experimented with various options on the right-wing without his talisman, including the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard.
The Spaniard seemingly hasn’t settled on one specific solution, as he continues to roll the dice on different players in this position.
While the Gunners could dip into the market to find a Saka replacement, reports suggest that a striker signing is more likely, and thus a rogue internal option could be on the cards.
Charles Sagoe Jr could be Bukauo Saka’s short-term replacement after impressive performance
Arsenal’s under-21s ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against Nottingham Forest’s reserves in Premier League 2 on Friday night.
Goals from Salah Oulad M’Hand and Khayon Edwards saw off the East Midlands outfit.
Many youngsters who have featured for the Arsenal first team played in the game, including the likes of Tommy Setford, Maldini Kacurri, Ismael Kabia and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.
Meanwhile, Charles Sagoe Jr. was among the substitutes.
Sagoe Jr. was recalled from his loan at Shrewsbury earlier this month, and some reports indicate that this was sparked by injuries to Saka and Ethan Nwaneri.
With Arsenal’s sparsity of wide options, the Hale End academy graduate could certainly find himself in the first team picture in the coming weeks.
He’ll have done himself no harm with his performance against Forest.
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The winger was introduced at half-time, and made some impact, delivering a dangerous cross just minutes after coming on, which ought to have led to a goal from Edwards.
Lively and hard-working, the former loanee will surely have impressed Arteta, who would likely have kept a close eye on this game.
Arteta handed Sagoe Jr. his debut back in September 2023, potentially indicating that the Spaniard is fond of the prospect.
If Arsenal continue to struggle in forward areas and to find a replacement for Saka, the manager could well call upon Sagoe Jr. at some point in some capacity, and utilise him as an unknown quantity.
Maldini Kacurri also impressed for the Arsenal under-21s
Deployed at the heart of Arsenal’s back four, Kacurri excelled for the Gunners.
The Albanian centre-back won the spot-kick that led to Edwards’ goal, driving up the pitch from the back before being brought down.
Like Sagoe Jr, Kacurri has featured in the Arsenal first team, and has been on the bench on numerous occasions in recent months.
If he continues to prove himself at youth level, there’s no reason why he can’t be granted minutes with the senior side as Arsenal continue to suffer from injury issues in their back-line.
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