Saka was forced off midway through the first half in last weekend’s 5-1 rout of Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park, Arsenal’s second win over the Eagles in a matter of days after a 3-2 come-from-behind home victory in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
The 23-year-old left the ground on crutches amid a worrying initial update from Arteta, who later confirmed a torn hamstring that would keep Saka sidelined for many weeks.
However the absence of Saka mean Arteta and Arsenal will be counting on the Brazilian , Gabriel Martinelli .
First match without Saka ended in a narrow 1-0 win against Ipswich Town but Gabriel didn’t have a nice game at all. Speaking to Arsenal media Arteta identified how he can be successful in absence of the star boy…
Arteta said: “Gabby needs people around him. He needs constant threats. He needs to be always in the last line when the ball is on his side, that he has relationships there, and people close to him because he’s very intuitive. He’s always a threat. I think that if you’re isolating too much, you’re going to suffer, especially playing with a natural foot on the right and that’s things that we can evolve and improve.”
Arsenal news
Kolo Muani is set to be offered around, but Taylor concurs with recent quotes from The Athletic’s David Ornstein who suggested that there hasn’t been any movement on that potential transfer yet.
“I’m sure they would have looked at him, and I don’t know of any pursuit on this occasion,” Ornstein said. “You never know, and I’m not saying this is happening at Arsenal, but January is largely a reactive market.
“If an opportunity arises for a low-cost loan for six months and a club such as Arsenal feel they’ve got the space, they’ve got the need, he’s the right playing profile or offers a different option to what they already have, and has the right character… then, okay, let’s have a conversation about this.
“That hasn’t happened with Arsenal to my knowledge, but I do think he’s one that stands a very good chance of moving.”
