Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has accepted the challenge of the match injured Winger Bukayo Saka would likely make him a better coach.
Saka is about to miss”many weeks“after tearing his muscle, with reports suggesting that he can lose up to three months as Arsenal look to manage what is thought to be a recurring injury.
With reserve winger Raheem Sterling also injured in training, Arteta has confessed Arsenal may be forced to dip into the transfer market to help cope without Saka.
Asked if this latest challenge could make him a better coach, Arteta told the media: “I think so, yes. We started the season with one of the thinnest teams in the Premier League and we knew it.
“If we have the thinnest squad, what do we need? We really dug into that to make sure we use every player to their best potential and everyone has to feel part of it.
“You have to rediscover players in different positions and different relationships. It's a really good exercise and the boys are willing to do everything we ask them to do, so that's a very good thing as well.”
Arteta has backed the line-up of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri to help fill the void left by Saka in the midfield, but perhaps a bigger concern could be the loss of creativity that comes with an extended stretch. -off for the best team creator.
Saka has ten assists from 16 Premier League games to date, many of which have come from corners. No other player has scored more than three goals Arsenal this season.