‘I can’t believe it’ – Mikel Arteta blamed for huge Arsenal blow

Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara says Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must take some responsibility for Bukayo Saka’s huge injury blow.

Saka was forced off during Arsenal’s Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on December 21 and missed the win over Ipswich Town on Friday night.

Arteta initially said Saka would be out for ‘many weeks’ but then revealed his player had undergone surgery, meaning he might not be back until March.

Saka posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed on Saturday evening after his operation and vowed to come back stronger from the setback.

The 23-year-old has been one of the most influential players in the Premier League in recent years, starring for an Arsenal side that have challenged for the title over the last three seasons.

Saka had scored five goals and made 10 assists in 16 league games before tearing his hamstring during the victory over London rivals Palace.

O’Hara believes it was inevitable that Saka would suffer a serious injury at some stage given the amount of football he has played and says ‘both Mikel Arteta and the fixture list are to blame’.

‘It was always going to happen, Arsenal have got themselves to blame,’ he told Grosvenor Sport.

‘Mikel Arteta has played him every single week, including games where you don’t need to play him, like Carabao Cup games.

‘The earlier rounds of those competitions should be used to rotate players, I can’t believe he’s played in all their Carabao Cup games!

‘I know Arsenal are hugely reliant on Bukayo Saka with what he can produce on the pitch, but this was always going to happen.

‘I think both the manager and the fixture list are to blame for his injury. The fixture list is outrageous.

‘Saka hasn’t had any time off. There’s no rest for the top players. The league demands these players to perform at the highest-level week in, week out, but they’re knackered!

‘It’s no coincidence that all the top players are getting injured. They’re not machines; they’re going to break down.

‘People argue that this is what football is all about, and having a big squad is key.

‘But people also forget that the protection of the players should be the top priority, and the level of protection is an absolute disgrace.’

Asked for the latest on Saka’s injury setback last week, Arteta said: ‘I think it will be more than two months.

‘I don’t know exactly how much longer, it depends on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, mobility of that, let’s see, very difficult to say.’

Pressed on whether Arsenal would look to sign a replacement for Saka during the January transfer window, the Gunners boss added: ‘We have to rely on the team.

‘That’s the biggest strength of us, we never rely on individuals scoring 25, 30 goals and we’ve managed to be very, very competitive still and we’re going to manage to do that.

‘As I said, I think the replacement of B [Saka] is going to be the team.

‘That unit in particular, having minutes together and asking different things, there were moments that flowed really well, there were moments where we can still have some work to do there and improve it and adapt to the qualities of the individuals. I’m certain we’re going to do that.’

Arsenal, sitting second in the Premier League, continue their Premier League campaign on New Year’s Day against London rivals Brentford.

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