Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has called on the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard to take on more responsibility after Bukayo Saka’s injury.
The winger was injured during the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat to Lens on Tuesday night and, with it being likely that he won’t feature against Manchester City this weekend, Henry has encouraged others to step up to the plate:
“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.”
“It’s going to be the job of an Eddie Nketiah, a Trossard or the job of a Kai Havertz who came to show that we’re not going to think about Bukayo if he’s not playing at the weekend.”
Has Saka been ruled out for the game against Manchester City?
The 22-year-old was replaced midway through the first half against Lens after picking up a knock and, asked about the player’s fitness after the match, manager Mikel Arteta said the signs were not good.
It should be pointed out that Saka has picked up minor injuries in his last 2 league games against Tottenham and Bournemouth before returning swiftly to the starting eleven. However, this fitness setback does look more serious.
Can Nketiah, Trossard or Havertz make the difference for Arsenal?
Nketiah’s goalscoring record this campaign has been rather mediocre, having scored twice in 10 appearances. Havertz, meanwhile, has just 1 goal (a penalty) and no assists to his name in 11 games.
Trossard has undoubtedly been the most in-form player out of the three, racking up 3 goals and 1 assist in 6 matches. The Belgian was expected to start at the weekend anyway due to the absence of Gabriel Martinelli, but it could be the case that he is swapped to the right wing against City, with Nketiah through the middle and Gabriel Jesus playing off the left flank.