Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were unable to complete Arsenal’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Leeds United this evening, raising concerns that the two key players may have suffered injuries. The Gunners will hope that neither setback proves serious, especially with important fixtures ahead.
Odegaard was the first to leave the pitch after experiencing discomfort, and not long afterwards, Saka, who had already found the net, was also forced off. The double withdrawal inevitably revived memories of last season, when both players endured injuries that disrupted Arsenal’s momentum and hindered their title challenge.
On this occasion, however, Arsenal were able to maintain their rhythm and control even in the absence of their influential duo, easing to a convincing victory that underlined their progress as a squad.
Arsenal’s Depth Put to the Test
This summer’s transfer window has been a fruitful one for Mikel Arteta’s side, with significant investment ensuring greater strength in depth across the squad. Unlike previous campaigns, Arsenal can now look to capable replacements when injuries strike. The ability to keep performing at a high level without their star men demonstrated the value of this renewed squad balance. Supporters will take reassurance from the fact that even if Saka and Odegaard require time on the sidelines, there is sufficient cover to maintain momentum.
The improved resilience of the team marks a clear departure from the struggles of past seasons, when the absence of one or two leading players had a disproportionate impact on performances. Arsenal’s dominance against Leeds, despite losing two central figures, is evidence that the squad has matured and been reinforced to cope with such situations.
Pundit Reaction
Former player and pundit Jamie Redknapp acknowledged the potential blow, reminding viewers that similar issues had proved costly in the past. Speaking on Sky Sports, he stated:
“The only disappointments are Arsenal may go without Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard next week at Anfield. With Kai Havertz as well.
Eze will be ready for next week. That was a problem for Arsenal in the past, they haven’t had strength in depth.”
His remarks underline the concern that losing both stars simultaneously could still test Arsenal’s resilience, even with reinforcements in place. Nonetheless, this latest performance offered encouraging signs that the Gunners are better prepared than before to cope with adversity.
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It doesn’t look like we will be any weaker, just different players. Thats what the squad is for. Saka will be the biggest miss but I trust Madueke to be a menace.
Yea me too, madueke was causing some mayhem especially in the RW
I think what is happening to Saka and Odegaard is the consequences of refusing to rotate squad in the previous seasons. Arteta was warned especially, on Saka but he turned a deaf ear. I just hope he will learn his lessons and rotate his squad. Whenever the duo returns, the coach should be mindful of minutes he will be giving them. Our fringe players proved their worth today. Let rotation continues, Biko.
Wait! Not all game week fixtures completed. Liverpool havn’t come away from Newcastle without injuries balancing things up. Newcastle usually are a tough mean side, have Liverpool done anything to really wind them up at all to make the whole city out to give them a hard time? Guramesh and Trippier have a red Misty streak. the new CB making home debut is 15 feet tall, if he tackles stickman wurzul then some of Liverpools entourage will have to stay behind to pick what’s left of their 100 million poundman out of the back of the stand. Liverpools summer has not been great, where’s their depth across front three, holding midfield and centre back? Take Salah out for 5 months with an injury, Liverpool revealed as relegation fodder. As I like gore and violence, I can’t wait for this Monday nights football. But Liverpool fans hoping or expecting trophies this season might want to look away.
In just 9 days from now a six point gap already and it might not even be difficult game at Liverpool, they fluked 2 draws off us last season. We didn’t finish with either Gabi or Saliba on field for the home one.
Anyone else watch city spurs? You can say city conceded bad goals – if Trafford is the answer, what on earth was the question – but truth is they created nada chasing game in second half making it too easy for spurs.
So, with just two games into the season, we are seeing the same scenario – Havertz, Saka, Odegaard, White all injured.
Yet we have fans on here saying we need to sell and the Eze signing questioned as to where he would play.
Now we have the answers.
The squad MA has built will be stretched immediately and I hope that fans remember this, especially as it’s so early in the season.
Hats off to you ken1945, as you predicted this potential problem area during last summer’s transfer season before the multiple injury crises arrived. We appear to have learned a bit of a lesson which hopefully will serve us better this season if we suffer the same fate.
Ken1945
You’ve mentioned injuries and talked about fans saying we need to sell players etc. before, but EPL rules state clubs can register 25 players in a squad for the season and will submit the list of names after this window closes on 1 September.
Arsenal currently has 30 players on its books including Eze now, so there are five more than can be registered under EPL rules – and if they can’t be registered, they can’t play in any circumstances. What’s the point of retaining them?
It’s sensible to at least try and sell them and raise some money to offset, albeit in a small way, the quarter of a billion spent on transfers this summer.
The fact here is that Arsenal operates under the same rules as every other EPL club regarding the number of players available to them. Just as every other club has to cope with injuries, suspensions etc. within those rules, so must Arsenal.
Bertie,
I think that Dowman comes under the academy banner and Hein is on loan so that is part of the equation. Looking at the list of players on the Arsenal website (I thought it was 28) there are more than enough on it that I’d expect to get the chop and get sold. Let’s hope that Berta has got it under control and we can then as you say, offset some of the expenditure so far this summer
SueP. Yes, “Home Grown Players” and those born on or after Jan 1, 2004 are not required to be registered. MA has made it clear in the past that he prefers a smaller squad but clearly that was not the way to go last season. We should make only those sales with which it is prudent to do so based on all the facts and circumstances including anticipated needs. ken1945 saw this more than, I believe, anyone else on JA last summer and I am simply complimenting him for his foresight.
BB, you are correct about the players born on or after 1/1/04. So Dowman, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri don’t need to be registered for a few years yet.
As SueP posted, there’s 28 players on the Website, Hein has left on loan. That leaves 27 which includes two players that don’t need to be registered, MLS and EN. I would imagine at least a couple of players will be leaving, either on loan or sold.
Herr Drier
I’m looking at the list on the club website and it’s dated 14 August. There are, indeed, 28 players on that list – but no Eze (No 10) as far as I can see, although Hein is still included. Is there a more up-to-date one?
Bertie, no date is coming up for me that I can see. You are right about Eze, as he’s not been added yet. Regarding Hein, at the bottom of the squad of players I’ve seen on the clubs website, he’s named as being on loan.
HD
Thanks. I would have thought Arsenal would have included him immediately given the razzmatazz (not a word you see very often on JA) around his signing. Anyway, perhaps on Monday.
No problems Bertie 👍. Yep, Monday would be the likely day he’s named in the squad list.
I’m really happy that he’s come home to play for The Arsenal, I think he’s the one type of player we’ve really needed.
No mate because Arsenal can have.a separate list outside of the 25 of those under 21
So it’s easily done
So it’s not sensible to try and sell the likes of Vieira and Lokonga, to name but two?
Of course it is ?
Wouldn’t hurt at all
You see, my original post was in response to one “Yet we have fans on here saying we need to sell…” in which it was suggested fans who said players should be sold weren’t taking into account Arsenal’s current injuries – so was somewhat critical of that.
I think just about everyone else who has mentioned it subsequently here agrees that Arsenal should sell players, so I was just clarifying the point.
You should always sell players if they are not good enough
You could sell a Reiss Nelson Lokonga and Vieria and have a big squad
From what I have picked up, Bertie, Arteta was undone by wanting to work with a small squad – like his mentor – and it came back to bite him.
Yet you defended him in January ?
I think they knew they messed up so bad in January they had to do something
Better to have to much then too little
If we had bought players in January it would have messed up this transfer window.
I did defend Arteta wanting assistance. It is understandable given the circumstances. But I also clearly remember reading/hearing that the club would only be active under special circumstances – this being said at the beginning of January. Jesus was injured mid Jan. An enquiry was made regarding Watkins and Arsenal wouldn’t meet the valuation by Villa. By this time the majority of available players were on their way elsewhere and Liverpool were already as good as in an unassailable position. It was damage limitation by then.
I do not have a crystal ball, but to remain in any sort of contention this season, the club would have to attack the transfer market as the squad was short of the calibre required and laid bare by the injuries. They have certainly done that now!
My question was about Watkins which you sidestepped. One incoming player in January was never going to be enough imo.
SueP
We’ll, I think we can all agree he’s certainly got a squad with, on paper anyway after two games in, far better strength in depth now.
However, I’m still of the opinion that players such as Lokonga, Vieria, and Nelson mentioned by me and others could be offloaded (if they could be offloaded!!) for the benefit of the club. After all, if the likes of Lokonga and Viera, for example, weren’t considered up to the job previously – which presumably they weren’t, and I don’t think much has changed – why would they be of that much use now?
Having sufficient numbers is a good thing, but it’s also the quality across the squad that matters. There are still some “passengers ” which the numbers mask in my opinion (and, hopefully) in Berta’s as well.
The OP’s point is still valid and probably accurate. Sure, it makes sense to move players on if they are surplus to requirements but no-one is arguing against this.
Yes, they are. You clearly haven’t read the original post (from Ken1945) which I was responding to:
“So, with just two games into the season, we are seeing the same scenario – Havertz, Saka, Odegaard, White all injured. Yet we have fans on here saying we need to sell and the Eze signing questioned as to where he would play.”
So how then do you interpret “Yet we have fans on here saying we need to sell”?
Sorry, but I don’t believe that Arteta has ever said or indicated that he wanted a “small squad”.
It seems that certain comments that Arteta has made in the past have been reinterpreted to suit a certain narrative which has become accepted as fact.
You are right but I thought that I heard that said on the radio, rather than on JA
BB, you are correct about the players born on or after 1/1/04. So Dowman, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri don’t need to be registered for a few years yet.
As SueP posted, there’s 28 players on the Website, Hein has left on loan. That leaves 27 which includes two players that don’t need to be registered, MLS and EN. I would imagine at least a couple of players will be leaving, either on loan or sold.
👍Thanks for the additional info HD. Berta has done well on the acquisition side and there’s no good reason that I can see to believe that he will not do what is possible in the best way on the sale/loan side.
No problems BB 👍. I concur with you concerning Berta and the selling/loaning of our players deemed surplus.
And you don’t register the 3 under 21 players
I’ve already said that.
Actually does how the squad looks like at the moment:
For next game:Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Eze, Rice, Madueke, Giokeres, Martinelli. 11 Players.
Bench : Kepa, Mosquera, MLS, Kiwior, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard, Dowman. 9 Players.
In the treadmen table: Saka, Odegaard, Havertz, White, Jesus. 5 Players.
For Sale :Zinchenko, Vieira, Lokonga, Nelson. 4 Players.
A total of 29 players; taking off the 3 academy players plus Jesus no needed to be register at the moment we are left with 25 registered players if we can not off loaded the ones x sale.
Yeah even if we didn’t sell anyone you can register all players apart from Jesus who we don’t need too