If Arsenal needed to choose a participant to play the entire season harm free, then Bukayo Saka can be first or second on that record.

Mikel Arteta was beforehand lucky that one among his key gamers has been away from the sidelines for therefore a few years.

Over the previous three seasons, Saka has missed simply 10 out of Arsenal’s 172 matches in all competitions – and since making his Premier League debut six seasons in the past, he has by no means been out for multiple top-flight sport at a time as a result of harm.

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Arsenal are hardly ever with out Saka however now they’re on overseas floor given he’s now sidelined for “many weeks” as a result of a hamstring harm sustained at Crystal Palace.

It’s a enormous blow due to Arsenal’s dependency on the England winger. Firstly, his finish product is unrivalled at Arsenal and solely a handful of Premier League gamers have a greater affect over their workforce when it comes to targets and assists.

However crucially, Saka is a key cog in Arsenal’s sport plan. Out of all Arsenal’s entrance three gamers within the final 4 seasons, Saka has extra minutes than the subsequent two most ever-present forwards mixed.

Not solely is he one among Arsenal’s key nook takers alongside Declan Rice – with the Gunners the outright useless ball consultants throughout Europe – however the method through which Arteta’s aspect come ahead repeatedly entails Saka.

Practically 50 per cent of Arsenal’s assaults going ahead undergo Saka territory – and that quantity has been growing yearly. This season’s 46 per cent leniency in the direction of the correct wing is the best dependency out of any Premier League workforce.

“He is an enormous participant for us,” Arteta stated on Monday. “It’s a must to see the affect he has on this workforce however it will likely be an excellent train for all of us to beat one other problem, as a result of we have had lots within the season.

“I am placing some concepts collectively, I have not acquired there but. However I’ve a number of after which I need to communicate with them to know how we’ll generate that and take it in a constructive means. That’s going to imply we’ll be totally different.”

Arsenal misplaced Martin Odegaard to a six-week harm earlier this season and Arteta didn’t declare his workforce have to vary their methods. However with Saka, it is a totally different story – particularly with back-up proper winger Raheem Sterling additionally set for weeks on the sidelines with a coaching floor harm. So what may Arsenal’s sport plan appear to be now?

The principle contenders: Brazilian magic down the correct

The most definitely to step in on the correct flank for now could be Gabriel Martinelli, who was the quick alternative for Saka down the correct wing within the 5-1 victory over Palace.

The Brazilian winger swapped flanks from left to proper and ended the sport with a objective and an help to his title. Higher challenges than Palace will check that, however it’s price noting that Martinelli additionally began on the correct wing when Arsenal beat Everton on the ultimate day of final season.

Martinelli shares the identical attacking verve Saka has when it comes to broad play, with the 23-year-old second to the Englishman within the record of most Premier League one-on-ones within the final two and a half seasons.

Nonetheless, the huge, overwhelming majority of these performs have come from the left wing – to the purpose the place solely 4.5 per cent of his Premier League minutes for Arsenal have come from the correct flank.

One other participant who has deputised for Saka down that wing is Gabriel Jesus – who began Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester Metropolis final October when the England winger missed the sport with a knock.

However, albeit during the last week or so, Jesus has been in good type at centre ahead for Arsenal, with 5 targets in his final two video games. Does Arteta weaken one other place to fill the Saka gap?

The problem that each Martinelli and Jesus have is they’re right-footed. It’s a totally different choice to Saka, whose left-footed menace mixed effectively with the same-footed Odegaard.

Arteta recognised that in his press convention on Monday: “We will have the choices to play each footed as effectively. If we have to, one other type of profile in relation to the opposition. So, we’re on it.”

The outsiders: may Havertz and Trossard step in?

So is the left-footed Kai Havertz set for the correct wing?

Arteta revealed on Monday that he wished to talk to a large pool of gamers about how this “totally different” Arsenal may look – one of many choices was asking the left-footed Havertz to do “various things”.

It will be a daring transfer, given Havertz has solely ever performed as both a centre ahead or an attacking midfielder since becoming a member of from Chelsea 18 months in the past, whereas his duel-winning capability would even be redundant out broad.

Arteta namechecked Leandro Trossard as effectively when it comes to a contender for the correct wing place. The Belgian has a popularity of being two-footed which might swimsuit Arteta’s standards for the position however like Martinelli, is extra suited to the left flank.

There are additionally doubts over Trossard’s talents as a starter – given his type for Arsenal has been significantly better as a ‘tremendous sub’. The Belgian has didn’t nail down a beginning spot on the left wing and has only one objective from 5 begins down that flank.

However Arteta might haven’t any alternative however to start out Trossard, particularly if Martinelli is required with no consideration winger within the coming weeks.

And naturally, there’s the switch window…

So with cons partnering the professionals when it comes to the interior candidates to exchange Saka, does that give Arsenal a motive to dip into the switch market?

Earlier than Saka’s harm, the Gunners had a relaxed view on the upcoming January switch window – they’d solely enter the market if a summer season switch goal grew to become out there early, or if accidents pressured their hand.

With Sterling additionally out injured, accidents have set Arsenal again on the correct wing. However Arteta admitted this week they have been extra getting ready for a possible defender signing – with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu struggling long-term accidents this season – relatively than additional ahead.

“If one thing has to occur, we can be open to it,” stated Arteta. “However the principle focus is now how do we now have the construction nonetheless with the potential on this squad?”

Arsenal have had a combined relationship with the January window underneath Arteta. In Odegaard, Trossard and Jorginho, they’ve sometimes moved for targets – however final summer season noticed them persist with what that they had – they usually have been inside two factors of the title.

With choices corresponding to Marcus Rashford in the marketplace, it could be tempting. However historical past might say Arteta will depend on cowl already on the membership – forward of a vital time within the season.