QUADRUPLE WARNING: MIKEL ARTETA FEARS MOUNTING INJURIES COULD DERAILE ARSENAL’S HISTORIC SEASON
Mikel Arteta admits major injury worries for Arsenal's quadruple bid. Discover the latest on Odegaard and Saka's new midfield role.
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Mikel Arteta isn’t hiding his concern; he’s worried Arsenal’s push for a quadruple might fall apart if injuries keep piling up in his midfield.
Martin Odegaard missed the FA Cup win over Wigan after picking up a knock, so Arteta had to shift Bukayo Saka into central midfield. Now Arsenal’s captain joins Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino on the injury list after that tough draw with Brentford.
“Yeah, I’m worried, especially because it’s always something,” Arteta said. “First it was the strikers, then the defenders, and now it’s the midfielders.” He’s watching his squad get thinner while Arsenal are still fighting on every front, leading the Premier League, already in the League Cup final, and top of their Champions League group.
“We’re coping for now, but we need players back and healthy, not just to fill out the squad but to give us different options against whoever we face,” he said. “The sooner, the better.”
Against Wigan, Arteta was forced to play Saka in midfield during a comfortable 4-0 win, but that wasn’t the original plan. He wanted to use Myles Lewis-Skelly there, but a late injury to defender Riccardo Calafiori meant Saka had to step in. It might not be the last time, either.
“I wanted to try it, and we could use it again,” Arteta said. “We’ve got so many matches, so many competitions, and all sorts of scenarios left this season. That’s definitely an option.”
He likes what Saka brings in that role. “He’s more central, closer to the goal. It’s harder for opponents to track him. He can swap with the wide player; he finds those little pockets, and when he gets the ball there, he’s dangerous.”
To make matters worse, Ben White also left the pitch injured. Arteta said they’ll need to check on him.
Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze bounced back after being subbed off at halftime against Brentford, setting up two stunning goals for Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.
“I loved the risks he took in the final third, the shots he tried; it’s really positive,” Arteta said. “That’s what I want from him. Creative players need those moments to feel like they’re making a difference. I’m really pleased with that.”
He didn’t forget Martinelli, either. “Gabi’s run, his timing, the finish – it’s all really good. It’s great for the mood and the team’s confidence.”
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
