Arsenal has been dealt a significant blow as star winger Bukayo Saka is set to miss the next two months due to injury. This development is a nightmare scenario for the Gunners, as Saka has been one of their most influential players since breaking into the first team. His absence will test Mikel Arteta’s side, which already struggled earlier in the season when captain Martin Odegaard was sidelined for a similar length of time. However, considering Saka’s consistent output and reliability, his absence could be even more damaging.
Since his debut, Saka has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s success, consistently delivering goals, assists, and match-winning performances. This consistency has made him irreplaceable, and because of his durability over the years, Arsenal has never felt the need to prioritise signing a backup option of comparable quality. However, the current situation forces the club to find creative solutions, and early signs suggest that they may rely on reshuffling their current squad to cope.
One immediate option has been to deploy Gabriel Martinelli in Saka’s role. The Brazilian, typically more effective on the left flank, has struggled to replicate Saka’s impact on the right. Fans and analysts alike agree that Martinelli is not a natural fit for the position, making it clear that Arsenal will need a more effective plan if they are to maintain their title challenge during Saka’s absence.
According to The Daily Mail, some Arsenal fans believe the club has already begun taking steps to address the issue. Observant supporters claim to have spotted a jet carrying Fabio Vieira back to London, suggesting that Arsenal may be recalling the on-loan midfielder from FC Porto. While Vieira has primarily operated in midfield during his time with the Gunners, his versatility could provide Arteta with an option to experiment with, rather than spending heavily in the January transfer window.
Despite these rumours, one thing is clear: Saka is irreplaceable. His unique blend of talent, work ethic, and consistency cannot simply be replicated by another player. While Arsenal may need to sign someone who can play in his role at a comparable level, fans and the club must accept that finding a true replacement for Saka is an almost impossible task.
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Not according to Porto Manager Personally, really hope not, not physically equipped for EPL built like a a year old….someone sneezes or a slight breeze he collapses…
Arsenal is the most dramatic and boring club,the Kroenke’s are a curse to Arsenal,since they bought Arsenal,Arsenal turned to.a club of plaques,worse than the plaques, God send to Egypt against “Pharaoh” Arsenal is now a club of mediocrity where winning community shield is a great achievement after spending 800.000.000.and dummies continues to buy season tickets, to encourage mediocrity, a player is bought and he’s injured before starting his first training. The fans have been hypnotized to accept mediocrity,and they’ll begging Tottenham to help them to win the bunch of morons in the highest order I’m an Arsenal I was laughing my lungs when Arsenal fans calling Tottenham shit,the contracting themselves praying for Tottenham to beat Man City for them to win the league.Kroenke has taken Arsenal to hell.
I think our under 12s are short.
Are we really that desperate for an article?
Seems you are running short of articles to do. Please write about how Arsenal is collecting a number of cards by delaying taking throw ins, that system is so frustrating even to us their fans, am not sure what stands to be gained apart from giving Refs enough excuse to yellow card the players. Who ever is advising them about that is completely off the mark and it’s counter productive. Fans want to see good flowing football, we understand about corners, but not with collecting un necessary yellow cards.
You can also write about how Arsenal FC its injuries has sky rocketed this year because the Refs had decided not to protect our players from crude tackles from their opponents while our players are carded for the slightest challenges.
Also write how their Premiership title contenders Liverpool are able to commit series of crude fouls without any cautioning. While the slightest challenge on their players the whistle would be blown and the opponent carded. You can look into the statistics involving both teams, game by game and compare what everyone is seeing and nor saying.
You can easily claim that Premier Leagure is a scam, previously it was Man City now it’s Liverpool being put up for the trophy by these Refs.
What a cheerful, uplifting prospect going into the new year. Don’t we have any better options in the youth system?
Arsenal is the most dramatic and boring club,the Kroenke’s are a curse to Arsenal,since they bought Arsenal,Arsenal turned to.a club of plaques,worse than the plaques, God send to Egypt against “Pharaoh” Arsenal is now a club of mediocrity where winning community shield is a great achievement after spending 800.000.000.and dummies continues to buy season tickets, to encourage mediocrity, a player is bought and he’s injured before starting his first training. The fans have been hypnotized to accept mediocrity,and they’ll begging Tottenham to help them to win the bunch of morons in the highest order I’m an Arsenal I was laughing my lungs when Arsenal fans calling Tottenham shit,the contracting themselves praying for Tottenham to beat Man City for them to win the league.Kroenke has taken Arsenal to hell.
When you reflect on the fact that one of Timber’s yellow cards is the result of time wasting in taking a throw in, it’s frustrating to us fans too, an unnecessary yellow. Nobody seems to be correcting this as Myles the new left back also takes long to throw the ball in play. Imagine him being carded for that and then picking up a second for defending! Unnecessary stress!!
He’s not even having a half-decent season with Porto, although he can play not too suicidally on the right wing, so probably a Martinelli backup.
He has demonstrated that he has a decent shot if given lots of time and space but then so can most professional forwards. I believe he’d even be a disaster if covering for Martinelli who at least runs back to help cover his defenders. Viera is so one dimensional. I don’t know what it is. Lack of physical energy,lack of awareness, lack of confidence?
Inamoto on Valium Joe.S
Correction: Miyaichi on valium.
Please no Vieira is simply not good enough and should be sold to highest bidder at end of the season
Sterling or Vieira as back up to an injured Saka.Thats known as “Hobson’s Choice”!.For different reasons neither is fit for purpose.Sterling was always going to be a mistake and his knee injury should now be used as a reason to send him back to Chelsea. Vieira is just not strong enough to play in the PL.
If Arsenal are to maintain a title challenge both in the PL and the CL in Saka’s absence then some creative thinking needs to be brought to play.There are a few high quality wingers potentially available this January but none will be able to be brought through the door on the cheap.Personally I think that Sterling’s return should allow Arsenal to strike a loan deal for Rashford.Refocused and playing in a decent team with a defined game plan and role would certainly have far better end product than the delusional belief that Sterling can still play at this level.
when looking at practical options for Arsenal then Vieira recall has to be considered, but I don’t expect it to happen
must be considered because there are few other options, as the article suggests a like-for-like for Saka is impossible
secondly any deal in January likely to not compete until near end of the window, with Saka due to return in March that is one month or so of cover, not forgetting some settling period
at least Vieira would be available early in January and no settling in period, can cover whole of Saka two months, not just one
and of course Vieira would not be a like-for-like (no one is) but added to our options
with many viewing head-down-directionless Martinelli as the leading Saka cover I am not convinced
while lite Vieira is genuinely creative which Arsenal are desperately short of (cf Martinelli again)
and of course Vieira is our player, so actually in our control (vs fantasy names too often demanded on this forum)
again I don’t think it will happen, but can absolutely understand why it might be considered
Viera an Arteta masterclass signing, Not.
Surely Dani Olmo, who can play either side, would be a better option ?
Then we can also look for a new Giroud, who was never properly replaced
This kid is best left alone
Oh my word, if true how desperate are we as a club these days. Viera, Really!🤦♂️
Why not try Nwaweri in Sakas position?
Anything is better than nothing! So I’d rather have Veira back in than no one else. He could come in handy for the cup gamed and to cover any further injuries
Viera or nothing? A real conundrum. We blasted Hutchison however compared to Viera he played like a a star for Ipswich. I’d prefer Stirling if fit or a Nelson recall. But there should be a Twenty million option out there who would provide much much better service than Viera.
He’s not good enough and would just be another body on the bench. I dont see the point. He’s not a solution for anything. Would literally rather play Nwaneri as much as we can so he’s a viable option for next season. This season only exists for us to secure top 4 again let’s be very honest about what’s going to happen. We’ve been Arsenal fans long enough to know better.
The well known issue with Viera is lack of physicality which is a requirement for EPL.
Arteta should by all means find an attacker to fill in Saka’s void.
As supporters, we want to see our team competing at the highest level.