In light of Bukayo Saka’s possible absence for the upcoming Premier League tie against Manchester City, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has called upon key players to step up and fill the void.
His comments come as Arsenal face the challenge of competing without Saka, who sustained an injury in the recent Champions League match against Lens.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has called on players Eddie Nketiah, Trossard and Kai Havertz to “step up” if Bukayo Saka misses the upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City.
Saka, an integral part of the Arsenal lineup, had to leave the game in the first half during Arsenal’s 2-1 Champions League defeat against Lens this Tuesday due to what could be a hamstring injury.
During that Champions League encounter in France, Saka was replaced by Fabio Vieira.
Arsenal’s performance declined noticeably in Saka’s absence, illustrating his importance to the team’s fluidity.
Speaking to CBS Sports, Henry discussed the likely impact of losing such a key player. “You can lose, but also it looks like you might have lost Bukayo Saka,” he said.
“People were talking about Rodri not playing at the weekend; now suddenly you don’t have the main man at Arsenal, in my opinion playing against Man City at the weekend. We’re not going too far, but it looks like it.”
Henry added that Saka’s absence could be particularly significant given Arsenal’s historical struggles against Manchester City.
He stated that other players like Nketiah, Trossard, and Havertz must step in to fill the void. “It is going to be the job of an Eddie Nketiah, a Trossard or the job of a Kai Havertz,” Henry explained.
Commenting on Saka’s gruelling playing schedule, Henry said that fatigue may also be a factor. “The only thing you can say about Bukayo is he’s been playing everything, and at some point, you are going to hit the wall, and it’s going to be too much,” Henry noted.
While the exact length and severity of Saka’s injury are still unclear, Henry underscored the need for Arsenal to find a way to overcome this setback.
“I don’t know what happened tonight, but obviously he is going to be missed. How long it will be I don’t know, but we need to find a way to beat City,” Henry concluded.
As Arsenal prepare for their upcoming match against Manchester City, it remains to be seen how the team will adapt to the possible absence of one of its most influential players.