Mikel Arteta Adamant The Team “Will React” To Saka’s Injury

By The Editor
on 23rd December 2024

Arteta is bracing himself for a period without Bukayo Saka…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is adamant that the team will react to Bukayo Saka’s injury after the winger hobbled off with a hamstring problem against Crystal Palace.

With the score at 2-1 and having played a significant part in our opener, Saka attempted to whip another right-footed cross into the box and immediately clutched his hamstring while calling for medical attention.

It’s something we’ve rarely seen with Saka and given that he left Selhurst Park in crutches, we can already assume that we’ll be without the 23-year-old for the coming weeks.

Saka has been directly involved in 15 of our 34 goals in the Premier League this season, highlighting how crucial he is to our efficiency in the final third.

Arteta told the press that injuries were inevitable given the schedule and the fact that we’re still in all four competitions. The manager, however, refuses to feel sorry for himself and expects the same from the team.

“And Raheem as well, we lost Raheem yesterday,” Arteta explained when asked about injuries to the attack.

“We don’t know for how long as well. So, to lose two players in 24 hours is not good.

“Unfortunately, with the amount of games that we are playing every three days with this schedule, it doesn’t surprise me but the team will react to that.”

While Gabriel Jesus has returned to something that resembles the player we signed from Manchester City, it’s tough to predict how long this form will last.

Gabriel Martinelli has also been poor this season – though the winger rose to the occasion when switched to the right-hand side following Saka’s exit.

Many have been calling on Arteta and the board to sign a forward capable of winning the game on his own and if that wasn’t already a priority position for them, this injury may force us to act.