Mikel Arteta challenges Arsenal to overcome ‘another challenge’ with Bukayo Saka injured
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants his team to step up in the absence of injured forward Bukayo Saka.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Follow topic:
LONDON – A buoyant Mikel Arteta had said that the English Premier League title race was “on”, after Arsenal swept Crystal Palace aside 5-1 in their last league game before Christmas.
But one dark cloud hangs over the Gunners after seeing Bukayo Saka limp off at Selhurst Park, with the influential England winger set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
It is a blow for Arteta, depriving him of his most potent attacking weapon – Saka has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions this season – just as Arsenal are finding their form again.
“It’s going to be a really good exercise for all of us to think about ways to overcome another challenge, because we’ve already had a lot in the season,” said Arteta, whose team were third in the table heading into the Boxing Day fixtures.
The Gunners host Ipswich Town on Dec 27.
“I am putting some ideas together. I haven’t got there yet, but I have a few,” he added.
“Then I want to speak with them (the players) as well, to understand how we are going to generate that and take it in a positive way. Because we are going to be different.
“We went through a period with five, six defenders missing, we went through a period without many other players. We will continue to find ways and taking it with positive energy.”
Arteta has a number of attacking options, with Gabriel Martinelli a candidate to fill the void, but the tricky Saka offers something unique and is deadly on the ball.
“Obviously, he’s a big player for us. You just have to see the impact that he has on the team, and I would be very optimistic that he is going to be well back before the end of the season,” the Arsenal boss said.
“But I make sure that we utilise every player in the best possible potential. Everyone has to feel part of it. You need to rediscover players in different positions.”
Arsenal, with their thrashing of fellow London side Palace, seem to have found their feet after consecutive league draws against Fulham (1-1) and Everton (0-0).
The Gunners have not lost in 10 games in all competitions and, following Brentford’s 2-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest on Dec 21, they are the only Premier League team yet to lose at home this season.
Ipswich will find it tough to break them down, as Arsenal also claimed three clean sheets in their last three league matches at the Emirates against Forest, Everton and Manchester United.
But Arteta also warned against complacency. He said: “Very impressed (with Ipswich). I like (manager) Kieran McKenna and have a lot of people that know him very closely and they always say great things about him.
“You can tell how they’re coached, what they’re trying to do. I think they’ve been very unfortunate in many games not getting the results that they deserve, so a very tough game for sure.”
Besides Saka, Raheem Sterling was the latest to join the treatment room, alongside Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Oleksandr Zinchenko, however, could be available. AFP, REUTERS
