Without Saka, the Gunners struggled to find their rhythm, but Kai Havertz’s 23rd-minute tap-in secured a narrow win over Ipswich Town. The victory moved Arsenal to 36 points, trailing Liverpool, who have 42 points with a game in hand. It also saw the Gunners overtake London rivals Chelsea, sitting on 35 points, and surprise contenders Nottingham Forest, who are fourth with 34 points.
Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his satisfaction, saying, “I’m very pleased with the win, the clean sheet, and much of our performance. We should have been more clinical, but the team showed consistency and didn’t allow any chances again.”
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Bukayo Saka has had a procedure on his hamstring injury and is expected to be out for 'more than two months'. pic.twitter.com/Fa1t2LeJl5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 27, 2024
Arsenal’s upcoming schedule includes a trip to Brentford on New Year’s Day, followed by an away clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on January 4. They will then compete in two domestic cup fixtures before welcoming local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates on January 15.
Arsenal are still competing for all 4 trophies this season and might need to adjust their approach to compensate for Saka’s ability to stretch defenses and create chances. Arteta could explore deploying Raheem Sterling to maintain creativity in the final third.
It’s incredibly unfortunate that Raheem Sterling, who is being paid by Chelsea to play for Arsenal, picked up a knee injury just days before Saka was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches. Sterling had been Arteta’s preferred choice to step in during Saka’s absence, which would have given the 30-year-old a chance for a sustained run in the team.
Since his move across London, he has only started consecutive matches once (and didn’t complete either), playing in multiple positions across the front line. He’s only played a full 90 minutes for Arteta once, and now the manager finds himself urgently needing Sterling’s presence.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
