Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka has had successful surgery on his hamstring injury but expects the Arsenal forward to be out for at least two months.
Arteta’s men have been rocked by Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months.
Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening against Ipswich on Friday night.
Arsenal ultimately moved into second place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win at the Emirates. In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period.
Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Speaking afterwards, Arteta confirmed his team must get used to winning matches without Saka.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Arsenal and Ipswich
“I said many weeks, so I think it’ll be more than two months,” the Gunners boss said. “I don’t know how much longer, it will depend on how long it will take for the scar tissue to heal.”
“Bukayo is going to be out for many weeks. The replacement of B [Saka] is going to be the team. We have to adapt to the qualities of individuals and I’m certain we’re going to do that.
“It was different. We will evolve that. We can’t isolate in the same way we do with Bukayo – we have to do it differently. It will take time, it’s a brand new unit.”
The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards.
Gabriel reacts after sending a close-range header wide of the Ipswich goal
It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved.
Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike.
Arteta added: “I’m very happy with the victory and the clean sheets and parts of the game. It was a very difficult opponent after a long run of games. It was about margins, and we could have scored more but the most important thing is how we handled the end of the game.
“We should have scored more but our defensive behaviours were outstanding and that will always give us the chance to win games.”
Analysis: Arteta has work to do to find formula without Saka
Arteta promised Arsenal would be “different” without Saka. He knows he has no direct replacement for the 23-year-old. On this evidence, though, it might take a bit of time to find a working formula in his absence as he begins a lengthy period on the sidelines.
Martin Odegaard strikes a shot on target against Ipswich
Martinelli was chosen to assume the role of Arsenal’s right-sided winger having impressed after moving across following Saka’s withdrawal in the win at Crystal Palace but he struggled, not registering a single shot, creating any chances or even completing any dribbles.
The goal originated from the opposite side of the pitch, with Trossard bursting away from Ben Johnson and sending a teasing cross into the six-yard box, where Havertz pounced. But Arsenal continued to direct a higher proportion of attacks down their right.
Arsenal sent 49 per cent of their attacks down the right flank
Martinelli was not the only one they looked to. Martin Odegaard offered support and Arteta’s front line was more fluid than usual, with Gabriel Jesus and Havertz also popping up on that flank, as well as interchanging positions with each other before Jesus was substituted.
Their movement caused problems for Ipswich at times, but Arsenal generally struggled to carve out openings, save for a spell in the second half when they peppered the visitors’ goal.
Havertz ready to stand up – but others must follow his lead
Sky Sports‘ Ben Grounds at the Emirates Stadium:
It’s true that you can’t score five every week, and there was a degree of satisfaction in the voices of home supporters as they chanted ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ at the final whistle.
“This turned into a scratchy performance that, in the midst of the congested run of fixtures, Mikel Arteta won’t mind. Tick this off, and move on to the next one.
“It is a game that won’t live long in the memory but it is one Arsenal ultimately won thanks to Kai Havertz’s elusive running off the ball.
“The German was rewarded simply for not standing still. Later, his exuberance would lead to a booking, but in the absence of Saka, it was vital that he continued his impressive output over the course of 2024.
“His decisive strike was his 24th goal involvement of the calendar year – just four shy of Saka. For as long as the Starboy is out injured, Havertz must continue that flow of finding the net.”
