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Arsenal FC winger Bukayo Saka is expected to be unavailable for several weeks following a knee injury sustained during the team’s impressive 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
During Monday’s press conference ahead of the upcoming match against Ipswich Town, Mikel Arteta provided insights into the situation, indicating that Mikel Arteta’s injury is more serious than initially anticipated.
“It’s not looking good,” Arteta acknowledged. “He’s a vital member of our squad, and his influence is significant. However, this situation allows us to regroup and strategize, just as we have done when faced with difficulties throughout the season.”
Saka, known for his pivotal contributions, left the match in the 24th minute at Selhurst Park, allowing Leandro Trossard to come on and showcase his abilities.
While Saka’s absence will create a noticeable gap, the team is equipped to navigate their busy fixture schedule.
In addition, Raheem Sterling is also likely to be sidelined for several weeks due to a knee issue, further complicating the situation for Arteta on the right flank.
“He will undergo further testing tomorrow to get a clearer picture of his injury,” Arteta said regarding Sterling. “While it’s unfortunate, we will gain more insight soon.”
With two key players out, Arteta has a tactical challenge ahead, but he remains optimistic about the squad’s ability to adapt. He pointed out several players who could step up to fill these crucial positions.
“Gabriel Martinelli had an excellent outing the other day, scoring a goal and providing an assist. He’s definitely a strong option for us. We also have various players with unique skill sets that we can deploy depending on our opponent,” Arteta explained.
He went on to highlight Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz as potential substitutes for the right-wing role. The coach said, “Gabby [Jesus] has experience in that position, and so does Ethan [Nwaneri]. Leo [Trossard] has the versatility to adapt during matches, and Kai [Havertz] brings his unique strengths to the table as well. We’ll have discussions with them to see how they feel about stepping into these roles.”
