Arsenal are in red hot form as they are leading the Premier League points table and have done well in tricky Cup matches aswell. So when everything is going right they cannot really afford losing players to injuries. Hence there was a major scare for the Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and the fans when they saw their star youngster Bukayo Saka limping off the ground in their 3-0 win over Oxford United.
However later when Arteta was asked about Saka’s situation, the Spanish tactician that the ENgland international is completely alright and the injury is not as serious as he and the others thought. “Saka is fine,” the Arsenal boss said after the victory at the Kassam Stadium. “It’s always tough to win these matches. It was a physical game in many moments but we stood by that. We changed things in the second half, got more control of the game and found the openings to win.”
The Gunners fans will hope that Arteta is correct as Saka will be needed for Arsenal in their upcoming clash against North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Saka was replaced by Emile Smith-Rowe in the FA CUp clash against Oxford United and if things are a little too risky for the youngster to start against Spurs, Arteta may again look towards Smith-Rowe.
Smith Rowe also made his first appearance against Oxford for the first time since four months following his groin injury. Arteta feels it was perfect for him to kick around in the FA Cup clash but now they will need him to be available at the highest level as he will be needed in high voltage clashes and that can the next one against Spurs in a North London Derby.
“It’s been four months since he played so I think it was the perfect game to give him some minutes to get off the blocks,” Arteta said. “Now he needs to start to get available and start to play at the highest level because we’re going to need him.”
Arsenal have a five point lead over Manchester City who are in second position. The Gunners had an even larger lead but they dropped points against Newcastle in a 0-0 draw with the Citizens closing the gap with a 1-0 win over Chelsea. Hence Pep Guardiola’s men will be hoping that Spurs can spoil Arsenal’s party and they can get even closer to the top of the points table. But even City will be up against Manchester United in a Manchester Derby and looking at the form of the Red Devils, it won’t be a cakewalk for Guardiola’s men as well.
