Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka has efficiently undergone surgical procedure on his hamstring harm, however the Arsenal striker is anticipated to be sidelined for at the very least two months.
Arteta’s facet have been rocked by a hamstring harm suffered by Saka, which might rule the England winger – who has 9 objectives and 13 assists this season – out for the subsequent two months.
Gabriel Martinez has taken over Saka’s place on Arsenal’s right-hand facet, an unenviable job, with the Brazilian scoring the one aim of the evening towards Ipswich City on Friday evening. ball.
Arsenal lastly jumped to second place within the Premier League standings with one aim. 1-0 win at Emirates Stadium. Within the remaining recreation of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the one aim of the sport halfway by means of the opening interval.
Arsenal’s victory brings them again to inside six factors of leaders Liverpool, having performed a recreation greater than the Reds and some extent forward of Chelsea after dropping to Fulham on Boxing Day. Arteta stated afterwards that his facet needed to get used to profitable video games with out Saka.
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Premier League match highlights between Arsenal and Ipswich
“I am speaking about many weeks, so I feel will probably be greater than two months,” the Gunners boss stated. “I do not know precisely how lengthy it will take. I feel it will depend upon how the scar tissue begins to heal. The primary week or so, how cell it’s. We’ll see, it is exhausting to say.
“Bukayo will probably be out for a number of weeks. I feel B’s alternative [Saka] Will probably be the crew. Particularly that unit. Spend a couple of minutes collectively and ask about various things.
“There are occasions when all the pieces goes rather well and there are occasions the place we are able to nonetheless do some work there, enhance it and adapt to particular person qualities. I am certain we are going to try this.
“That is completely different [tonight]. We’ll enhance this. We will not isolate like we did with Bukayo – we’ve got to do one thing completely different. It takes time, it is an entire new unit.
The Ipswich protection did not take care of Martinelli’s cross and the ball fell to Leandro Trossard on the opposite facet of the field. Trossard fought his option to the baseline after which knocked the cross into the penalty space, the place Havertz fired the ball in from a bit additional away.
Gabriel reacts after his header from shut vary misses the Ipswich aim
It was Havertz’s third aim in 4 video games and his twelfth of the season, and it was properly deserved for the house facet, who had loved a staggering 91.4% possession at that stage of the sport.
Heading into Friday’s recreation, Arsenal had misplaced simply one in every of their final 75 Premier League video games following a aim, and their victory right here was all however assured after Kai Havertz’s strike.
Arteta added: “I am very proud of the win, the clear sheet and a few elements of the sport. After an extended recreation it was a really tough opponent to play towards. It is about revenue and we might have been Rating extra, however greater than something the query is how we deal with the tip of the sport.
“We must always have scored extra, however our protection performed rather well and that’s all the time going to present us an opportunity to win the sport.”
Evaluation: Arteta nonetheless has work to do to search out components with out Saka
Arteta guarantees Arsenal will probably be “completely different” with out Saka. He is aware of he has no direct alternative for the 23-year-old. Nevertheless, based mostly on this proof, it might take a while to discover a viable answer in his absence as he embarks on an prolonged interval on the sidelines.
Martin Odegaard scores a aim towards Ipswich City
Martinelli was chosen as Arsenal’s proper winger after impressing after Saka’s cross towards Crystal Palace, however he struggled and failed to attain. , didn’t create any possibilities, and didn’t even full any dribbling.
The aim got here from the opposite facet of the pitch as Trossard burst previous Ben Johnson and despatched a provocative cross into the six-yard field, the place Havertz pounced. However Arsenal continued to focus extra of their assaults down the correct wing.
49% of Arsenal’s assaults come from the correct wing
Martinelli is not the one one they’re keeping track of. Martin Odegaard supplied assist, Arteta’s ahead line was extra fluid than normal, and Gabriel Jesus and Havertz additionally appeared on the flanks, swapping positions earlier than Jesus was changed.
Their motion triggered Ipswich issues at instances, however Arsenal typically struggled to create house, aside from a interval within the second half once they discovered the guests’ web.
Havertz able to step up – however others should observe his lead
Sky Sports activities Ben Grounds at Emirates Stadium:
“It is true which you could’t rating 5 objectives per week and when the house followers chanted ‘Arsenal 1-0’ on the remaining whistle, there was a sure contentment of their voices.
“It was a maddening efficiency and in a congested schedule, Mikel Arteta will not thoughts. Tick this one and transfer on to the subsequent one.
“It was a recreation that will not reside lengthy within the reminiscence, however Arsenal gained it due to Kai Havertz’s elusive motion off the ball.
“The German was rewarded merely for not stagnating. His enthusiasm later led to a yellow card, however in Saka’s absence will probably be very important that he continues his spectacular type into 2024.
“His decisive aim was his twenty fourth aim of the 12 months, solely 4 fewer than Saka. So long as the star boy is injured and sidelined, Havertz should proceed his scoring momentum.”
