Arsenal have lost four players to injury this season already after just the opening four games. Reiss Nelson first suffered an issue that will keep him out for as much as two months, whilst both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Thomas Partey have suffered minor issues.
Arsenal have also now lost Mohamed Elneny to a significant injury and as a result, could dip into the transfer market to help support Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lokonga. However, Bukayo Saka could become a victim of the latest blow to the midfield.
With Arsenal needing now to focus their potential end-of-window investment in midfield and Nicolas Pepe loaned to Nice, Saka finds himself as the only natural senior right-winger at the club. Fabio Vieira could potentially play the role, but he is yet to make his debut and his defined role is yet to be established.
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Marquinhos, the young Brazilian starlet brought in this summer, is impressing the coaches and as a result, any consideration of a loan was suspended for the time being. He can play on either flank but is again unproven at the top level.
Saka’s start to the season has not been what he might have hoped after he failed to score in any of the opening four matches. His end to the previous campaign was perceived as laboured and tired after he featured in every league game.
The start to this, however, should not be seen as a continuation. Not yet at least. Four games in four weekends is not exactly strenuous and, yes, the prior campaign’s demands could still be impacting the player but let us not forget that Arsenal are a side with ambitions to compete in the Champions League once again.
Top players like Saka will be needed for both Premier League and midweek European action on a regular basis. The expectation of players continues to rise but it has been this way for some time.
This is not to say Arsenal shouldn’t be looking to invest in competition, and with Vieira and Marquinhos they arguably already have, but there’s an intention to find further players this summer. That said, the versatility of existing attacking options is an asset to Arteta, and he will know this.
Arteta is not running Saka into the ground right now and the player’s quality has been needed in the four opening victories. A goal and a boost to the 20-year-old’s confidence will do him the world of good, though.
Ahead of the home North London Derby last season, Saka had been going through somewhat of a similar goalscoring drought. However, a goal in the clash with Spurs kicked off his best goalscoring season to date.
Let us not jump to conclusions about a young player with a big future. Although, it should be stressed having allowed Pepe to leave, it would be sensible to find the quality to bring in before the transfer window slams shut.
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