Arsenal are scheduled to take on Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday and Mikel Arteta has hinted that the absence of Bukayo Saka has been a stumbling block for the Gunners in recent matchweeks.
Arsenal were held to a draw by Brighton last weekend and then in midweek they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United. The North London side will now welcome a buoyant Man United in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup and Arteta believes that Odegaard is still trying to adjust to the fact that Saka is missing due to a hamstring injury.
The manager said in his pre-match press conference: “It can be an element of that. Obviously, he’s come from an injury and first maybe week or two you have that extra energy and then you play every three days. He was ill as well for over a week, so that plays a part. A lot of circumstances but obviously, it’s inevitable to think when you have such a chemistry with a player and you’re not together next to each other, then you will notice something that is different.”
Bukayo Saka has been the star player for Arsenal in their previous couple of seasons and this campaign, he has already made 15 goal assists in just 16 Premier League games. He injured his hamstring against Crystal Palace last month and the England international will be out of action until the end of February.
In that Palace win Arsenal had scored 5 goals but since then they have netted five in as many matches and their last game was a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at the Emirates.
There’s no denying that the Gunners have become sort of toothless without Bukayo Saka in their side because neither Trossard nor Gabriel Jesus have the capabilities to make a similar impact. Also, Odegaard had made a perfect sync with Saka and now that the England international is unavailable, Martin Odegaard has been forced to do all the creative work himself.
Mikel Arteta had used Leandro Trossard on the right flank for their Carabao Cup defeat but we are very sure that on Sunday, it will be Gabriel Jesus who is going to come into the starting lineup. Jesus has scored only 3 goals in 17 league appearances this season and the Brazilian international will be nowhere close to menace for Dalot and Lisandro Martinez on that side of the pitch.
Having said that, Arsenal are still very much a threat going forward but without Bukayo Saka it will be very difficult for them to break down Man United’s new look 3-4-2-1 system.
The Gunners did beat Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United last month in the Premier League but in that match it was Bukayo Saka who was the best-performing forward. The 23-year-old had an xG of 0.13 in that game and he also created 2 major chances.
Manchester United showed massive grit and resilience to hold Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield and if Amorim’s boys can step onto the Emirates pitch with a similar mentality then Arsenal will have to massively pull up their socks.