Arsenal hero Freddie Ljungberg has revealed why he is ‘worried’ ahead of the visit of Manchester City and issued criticism at Mikel Arteta after the injury for Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners will meet their Premier League title-rivals at Emirates Stadium this Sunday. But Arteta is facing the prospect of naming an Arsenal line-up without Saka after the 22-year-old sustained a hamstring injury at RC Lens. It was also only the latest issue for their star winger.
Arteta also had to remove Saka from the north London derby with Tottenham Hotspur after he took a heavy knock. The foot injury would even keep the 30-cap England ace out of their Carabao Cup win at Brentford. Saka returned at Bournemouth only to sustain another injury.
Ljungberg fears for Arsenal against Man City after Saka’s injury
Cherries left-back Milos Kerkez accidentally stood on Saka’s foot during the Gunners’ win at Dean Court. The issue did not prove to be a long-term issue and the winger returned to start at RC Lens. But Saka would then go off after just 34 minutes after sensing a hamstring injury.
TV2 journalist Arilas Ould-Saada shared following the RC Lens clash that Arteta told him that Saka’s injury ‘doesn’t look good’. His likely absence comes at a dire time for Arsenal ahead of facing Manchester City on Sunday. And Ljungberg believes Arteta unnecessarily risked Saka.
“Looking at this makes all the Arsenal fans a little bit worried,” Ljungberg told CBS Sports, via quotes by football.london, after Saka’s injury. “He was touching the back of his hamstring.
“I have been a little bit like, ‘Rest him a little bit’. I felt he’s played a bit too much. He’s still young and you say they can run as much as they can when they’re young. Rest him.
“He’s the most important player, give him a break sometimes. I’m a bit worried for Arsenal at the weekend and how they’re going to play without him.”
Ljungberg is right but Arteta could not risk resting Saka at RC Lens
Saka is an essential cog in Arteta’s plans that Arsenal will rue not having this Sunday against Manchester City. So, Ljungberg is right to imply the Spaniard could have considered giving the winger a rest in midweek. But, as shown without him, Arsenal struggled against RC Lens.
The Gunners fell to a 2-1 defeat in their second Champions League game of the season after having very little in attack. Arsenal rolled the ball from side to side with real ease as RC Lens sat back and let them. Yet Arteta’s side created few real chances to score a second goal.
Now, Arsenal go into one of their biggest fixtures of the Premier League season without who Ljungberg considers to be their ‘most important player’. Saka has also scored more goals (5) and laid on more assists (5) than any of Arteta’s players. He has started 10 of their 11 games.
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