Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Bukayo Saka will undergo hamstring surgery and will be sidelined until at least March.
Arsenal moved to second place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Ipswich at the Emirates. It was the first game without Saka after the England winger tore his right hamstring in last weekend’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Before Friday’s game, Arteta said 23-year-old Saka would be sidelined for “many weeks”, speaking shortly after his side’s victory kept leaders Liverpool under pressure. Arteta has given his star man a longer time frame.
“He had the surgery and everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for a number of weeks,” Arteta said.
“It’s going to take more than two months. We don’t know exactly how long it will take. It depends on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, and its mobility. It’s very hard to say. It’s difficult.”
“The team will replace Bukayo. There were moments tonight where we did well and there were moments where we knew we still had work to do, but I’m confident we’ll get it done.” We have to rely on the team, not the individual. ”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Ipswich
Saka’s injury spell will be a huge blow to Arteta, who is aiming to help Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time in 20 years.
In Saka’s absence, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening half of the Gunners’ final game of 2024.
Gabriel, Havertz and Martin Odegaard missed chances to extend Arsenal’s lead in the second period, but victory moved them back within six points of leaders Liverpool (who have played one more game than the Reds). (1 point difference from Chelsea as a result of boxing) On this day they lost to Fulham.
Gabriel reacts after firing a close-range header wide of the Ipswich goal
Arteta continued: “I’m very happy with the win, the clean sheet and the majority of the game. They are a difficult opponent and we have played so many games.
“You can see that the team is winning by a narrow margin. Today we could have increased that lead even more, but we couldn’t do that and we had to stay focused and defend well in the last few minutes. It was done.”
“We should have scored more. We had big chances in the second half, like Gabriel’s big header from 1 yard, but the team was consistent and didn’t concede anything. That always gives us a chance to win the game. It’s a thing.”
Arsenal next face Brentford on New Year’s Day. Ipswich are second from bottom, three points from safety, and will face Chelsea on Monday night.
Ipswich suffered a 4-0 defeat at home to Newcastle in the game prior to their trip to the Emirates, their fifth defeat in six games.
“It was a good step back in the right direction for us,” manager Kieran McKenna said. “We weren’t up to the level against Newcastle. We knew we had to be resilient today and we did that.”
Analysis: Arteta has work to do to find a formula without Saka
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright at Emirates Stadium:
Arteta promised Arsenal would be “different” without Saka. He knows there is no direct replacement for the 23-year-old player. However, based on this evidence, it may take some time for him to enter an extended period of absence and find an effective regimen during his absence.
Martin Odegaard hits a shot on target against Ipswich
Martinelli moved on following Saka’s sending off in the win over Crystal Palace and was chosen to play the role of right winger for Arsenal, where he impressed, but he failed to take a shot and was given no chances. He struggled as he couldn’t make any moves and his dribbling wasn’t successful.
The goal came from the other end of the pitch, as Trossard swung past Ben Johnson and sent in a defiant cross into the six-yard box, where Havertz pounced on it. However, Arsenal continued to have a high percentage of attacks from the right flank.
Arsenal sent 49 percent of their attack down the right flank.
Martinelli wasn’t the only one they looked at. Arteta’s front line was more fluid than usual, with Martin Odegaard providing support, with Gabriel Jesus and Havertz also appearing on that flank, swapping places with each other before Jesus was substituted.
Their movement caused problems for Ipswich at times, but Arsenal struggled to create gaps overall, apart from a late spell when they added to the visitors’ goal with gusto.
Havertz is ready to rise – but others must follow his lead
Ben Grounds on Sky Sports at Emirates Stadium:
“Obviously you can’t score five goals every week and there was a certain satisfaction in hearing the home supporters chanting ‘Arsenal won 1-0’ at the final whistle.
“This was a prickly performance that Mikel Arteta won’t mind in a crowded game. Let’s tick this off and move on to the next game.”
“This is a game that won’t live long in the memory, but one that Arsenal ultimately won thanks to Kai Havertz’s elusive run off the ball.
“The German was rewarded for simply not standing still. His vitality subsequently led to his booking, but in Saka’s absence it was vital that he continued his impressive performance throughout 2024. .”
“His decisive strike was his 24th goal involvement in the calendar year, just four goals behind Saka. Havertz continued his streak of finding the back of the net as long as the star boy was out injured. Must be.”
