Arsenal will have to line up against Ipswich Town at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night without Bukayo Saka in the side.
Mikel Arteta will have to cope without the talismanic Arsenal winger for the foreseeable future.
Bukayo Saka picked up an injury against Crystal Palace last time out in the Premier League. As the Gunners’ most potent and productive attacker, his loss comes as a huge blow to the North London club.
Fortunately for the Gunners, Gabriel Jesus has recently returned to form in front of goal, whilst Gabriel Martinelli has also impressed on the right flank, suggesting that Arteta may have the means at his disposal to cope without Saka.
Mikel Arteta addresses Arsenal squad after Bukayo Saka blow
Arteta has insisted that he has several alternatives to Saka in his squad at the Emirates Stadium.
However, the Spanish coach doesn’t expect any individual player to entirely replace the impact and influence that Saka has in this Arsenal team.
Instead, the Gunners will have to step up as a collective, across the board, to ensure that Saka’s absence doesn’t damage the club’s prospects and ambitions for this season.
This is an issue that the manager has discussed with his squad, as Arteta revealed on Amazon Prime Video (27/12/2024, 19:22) ahead of his side’s clash with Ipswich Town.
He said: “I think it’s good to speak about the elephant in the room because it’s so obvious. I mean the impact of Bukayo in the team, it’s been huge. There isn’t another player who has the stats Bukayo has had in the last two or three seasons.
“It’s ok, who wants to take more responsibility? How can we be more inventive? Different? How can we create other problems for opposition with the qualities that we have because I don’t want to demand somebody else to do what Bukayo does because it’s unfair.”
Bukayo Saka injury update
In the same interview, Arteta also provided an update on Saka’s injury, confirming that it will be a long-term problem.
He stated: “It wasn’t good news at all, he will be out for many, many weeks. Unfortunately, we won’t have him but it’s a good opportunity for the squad and certain individuals to step up.”
With Raheem Sterling also injured, the Gunners are currently facing a dearth of wingers in their first team group.
Therefore, not only do the likes of Martinelli, Jesus, and Leandro Trossard need to step up in terms of goals and assists whilst Saka is out of action, but they also need to ensure that they remain fit themselves too. Arsenal cannot afford any more injuries in this part of the pitch.
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