Former Arsenal star Paul Merson believes Mikel Arteta could regret his decision to play Bukayo Saka in their 2-1 defeat against Lens in the Champions League.
The 22-year-old has been a mainstay in Gunners frontline for the past three seasons. He has not missed a single Premier League game since May 2021 and has amassed over 140 appearances for the club in all competitions since making his debut in 2018.
It is clear that the England international is an irreplaceable player for Arteta as he has been an excellent source of goals and assists for the Spaniard over the years. His assist to Gabriel Jesus in midweek made him the first player to score five goals and register five assists in all competitions this season for a team in Europe’s top five leagues.
But with the forward limping off after only 30 minutes against Lens, there are worries that Arteta won’t have his talisman for their crucial game against Manchester City on Sunday.
The Sky Sports pundit told SportsKeeda: “I didn’t expect Arsenal to beat Lens this week, and I’m not sure why Arteta chose to play Bukayo Saka. He’s got a big game coming up against Manchester City, and his decision could come back to bite them.”
Arsenal Fever View:
It would be an understatement to say that Saka’s loss would be a huge blow. He has developed into one of the most prolific wingers in the Premier League and is a dependable source of goals and assists for the north Londoners.
The academy graduate has played a lot of games and injuries are an inevitable consequence of such a heavy workload. By being more cautious, Arteta could have prevented the current predicament. He should have considered resting the youngster on some occasions.
Saka’s position on the right wing is the only area of the pitch where the Gunners do not have adequate backup. Although they have considerable options on the left wing and in the midfield, no one is technically suited to cover the Englishman’s position.
If Saka remains unfit to start the game on Sunday, we could see Jesus replacing him on the right wing and Eddie Nketiah starting as the Number 9. The Emirates club are just a point behind reigning champions Manchester City and will have an excellent opportunity to leapfrog them in the Premier League table.
Read More: Sherwood feels Declan Rice will become an Arsenal legend
