December 22, 2024
Mikel Arteta will be making several changes in key positions in his squad due to injuries rocking the Arsenal team at the moment. Several Arsenal players were injured during the international break, putting the club in a tight corner as they continue their competition with top competitors, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury is a serious setback for Arsenal. The team is already struggling with injuries to key players, and Saka’s injury could rule him out for several weeks. Two consecutive international breaks have broken the tactics mechanism of Arsenal.
Saka’s injury has been hoped to be minimal, and Arteta told the Athletic last Friday that it won’t take a longer period to recover.
“It’s not a serious injury (for Saka),” the Arsenal manager said. “He’s evolving really well. He’s done a few things in the last few days when he came back from the national team after the second game. We are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon and he did some bits yesterday, so let’s see if he can make it on time.”
Saka, 23 has featured 10 times in all competitions for Arsenal this season, scoring three goals and providing seven assists.
Meanwhile, the MRI scans on Gabriel Martinelli showed a “small area of muscle edema”—swelling”—to his right calf. The Brazil international has two goals and two assists in 10 appearances in all competitions this season.
The two players are vital elements in Arsenal’s compound as they challenge for the league title.
Germany withdrew Kai Havertz from their squad for October’s Nations League fixtures due to a knee problem, while Ghana’s Thomas Partey missed the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. This adds up to the multiple list of injuries in Arsenal.
Ben White, Jurrien Timber, and Oleksandr Zinchenko all sat out the Premier League victory over Southampton before this month’s international breakthrough injury.
Arsenal have contended with several injury concerns during the 2024-25 campaign, with captain Martin Odegaard sidelined after sustaining an ankle injury during September’s international break. Although it has been said to return shortly before the next international break in November.
“He’s not going to be fit for this game,” Arteta said. “Next week will be a different story. In that later stage of rehab, where he is at the moment because he’s doing a lot of stuff already, he needs to clear some markers.
“There are certain things he needs to be comfortable with doing, especially with the ball. Next week will be crucial to understanding how close he is.”
The only positive right now for Arsenal is the return of summer signing Merino to the team after an injury break.
Just as Arteta has told the media that Saka’s injury isn’t “serious,” there is hope that Arsenal’s winger will be back before they face tougher games.
Arsenal faces Bournemouth this weekend and Shaktar Donestk next week on Wednesday before hosting Liverpool at the Emirate next Sunday.
However, if the problem turns out to be a serious hamstring injury, unlike what Arteta said, then Saka is looking at six weeks on the sidelines. Liverpool’s Alisson suffered a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on Oct. 5, and the goalkeeper is not due back until mid-November.
Saka could miss Premier League matches against Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Chelsea. He would also be unavailable for Champions League fixtures against Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter Milan. Welded into the hectic schedule is also an EFL Cup match with Preston.
If Saka avoids the worst-case scenario, the winger could only miss Arsenal’s matches against Bournemouth and Shakhtar Donetsk. Of course, the goal would be to have the England international back by the Liverpool game on Oct. 27 should the injury be nothing more than a minor problem.
Replacing Saka at Arsenal is quite a headache for any serious manager. The 23-year-old currently leads the Premier League in assists with seven in seven matches. He is one of the best right-wingers in Europe, let alone the EPL. Mikel Arteta can move several players to the front line, but none are natural replacements for the England international.
When Saka missed time for Arsenal last season, Arteta started Gabriel Martinelli in his place; unfortunately, the Brazilian is battling a Calf injury.
However, Raheem Sterling is another option for Arteta. Last season alone, the 29-year-old made 11 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea on the right wing. Sterling gives Arteta a versatile winger with experience playing against the best clubs in the Premier League. Since coming to Arsenal, though, Sterling has yet to get off the mark in the EPL. He did bag a goal and assist against Bolton in the EFL Cup.
Gabriel Jesus also got the nod on the right wing when Saka missed Arsenal’s first clash with Manchester City last season, but the Brazilian has failed to impress in his limited minutes this season. Starting the striker against teams like Liverpool and Chelsea seems unlikely.
The full picture for Arsenal’s future with or without Saka will become much clearer as they play Bournemouth in the EPL this weekend and Shakhtar Donetsk in the UCL next Wednesday.
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