Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could be about to face his worst nightmare after confirming Bukayo Saka has picked up an injury. The winger is a doubt for this weekend’s Premier League match away to Bournemouth and thanks to a transfer failure from Edu, the Gunners have no way of replacing him.
On May 2 2021, 878 days ago, Arsenal won 2-0 away at Newcastle in a top-flight clash. Goals from Mohamed Elneny and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave the visitors a routine victory in the north east.
One notable absentee from the Arsenal team that day was Saka, who was an unused substitute. It had been a bit of a breakthrough year for the teenager, who would go on to be part of the England squad that made it to the final of Euro 2020 that summer – we all know how that ended.
But that game at St James’ Park is notable in the fact it was the last time Saka did not play a Premier League match. Almost two-and-a-half years have gone by and he has featured in all 86 of the Gunners’ league games since then.
He has broken Paul Merson’s all-time Arsenal record of most consecutive games in the Premier League. What makes it even more impressive is that Saka has started 82 of those matches, coming on as a sub on just four occasions.
He has been a constant figure for Arteta since nailing down the right-wing spot as his own. Saka has scored 28 league goals since he last missed a game and registered 21 assists.
Those statistics are only getting better. He managed a career-high 25 goal contributions last season and already has five in six matches this term.
But he limped off late on in Sunday’s north London derby draw against Tottenham. It takes a lot for Saka to go off so that will be a worry for Arteta, who confirmed he could miss the weekend’s trip to the Vitality Stadium.
Arteta said: “He was limping quite badly after the match. We had to get him off the field, which is never a good sign as well.
“He hasn’t been able to participate in the session. It’s a possibility, yes [that he could miss the Bournemouth game].”
What the injury is remains unknown but Saka has been struggling with an Achilles issue that he had at the end of last season. How he has played so many matches consecutively is even more remarkable when you see how often he is targeted by opposition full-backs.
It was never going to be realistic for a player in Saka’s position to play week in, week out. But Arsenal should have a player who could step in and replace him.
It is arguably the one position in the entire squad where Arteta does not have depth. Arsenal have scoured the market in recent windows for a right-sided winger who can fill in for Saka when required and there not be much of a drop off.
It is difficult to do that. Liverpool are grateful for Mohamed Salah’s almost impeccable injury record in the same position. Jurgen Klopp has depth on the left wing but Salah is the main man on the right.
But to put so much pressure on Saka at such a young age is a mistake from Arsenal. Sporting director Edu should have found a solution to the problem by now.
Moussa Diaby was regularly linked with Arsenal and is now shining at Aston Villa after joining for just over £50million in the summer. Arteta wants his wingers to invert onto their stronger foot and Diaby would have done that.
That is just one example, there are others out there who Arsenal should have found before Saka’s long run inevitably came to an end. Arteta will be hoping this injury is not serious and even if he misses the trip to Bournemouth, he will desperately want him back for the visit of Manchester City the following Sunday.
