Can Arsenal Cope Without Saka?

As you've mentioned that, let's start on that. Bukayo Saka looks like he's going to be out for anything between six to eight weeks with this injury that he's picked up on his quad. Um... If you want to sort of find out a bit more about the type of injury that he's picked up, I urge you to go and watch the video that I did with Dr. Andre. He used to be a doctor, ironically, for Everton. Thank But he talks extensively in the video about the type of injury that Bukayo Saka has picked up and the fact that, you know, it's not a good one and it needs rest. you And he will be at least six to eight weeks for that injury. very How big of a blow is that for Arsenal? You know, we know he hasn't been at his best so far this season, much. but still four goals in all competitions. And a vital player for us. Yeah, I think that's the thing. People say he ain't been playing that well, which is probably true. But he's still a standard very, very high. You know, overnight. He's been putting in performances which haven't been as good. But also, one of the reasons I say that is because every time he gets the ball, he's doubled up. And it's a massive blow for Arsenal, let's be honest. The only decent thing about it, and the only good thing about it, is a stupid thing to say, is that they've got international break, so there's two weeks of that, six to eight weeks. Yeah, it'll... So realistically, I know it's six to eight weeks, it's probably six weeks of football he's going to miss. That's still a lot. If it's me now, and I'm Mikel, I'm saying to him, see you back after Christmas. You know what I mean? After Christmas? Yeah, I don't want him back, like, you know what I mean? I think, like, if I work it out, eight weeks is one week before Christmas, like, you know what I mean? Just take your time on it now, like, and come back 100%. I've always felt that he's been rushed back injuries all the time, like, you know? And I understand why, but we don't need to rush him back now, like, you know? And this is now a massive opportunity for somebody else, but listen, I'm... The criticism of Saka has been totally unfair, you know, a lot from the outside in, and I understand a lot of Arsenal fans, I've been critical, I'm not as critical of him, just more worried about his performances, like, you know, but at the end of the day... Everybody knows that if he produces the performances that we know he can, he takes us to a different level, Rob. No one else can do that in that front line. No one else can do that in that front line. And that's why he's important to the team. So it's a massive blow. Yeah, it is a massive blow. And, you know, some of the games that he could miss in that include games against Tottenham, games against Man City. I mean, these are huge games. Liverpool, Man United, Yeah, of course, he'll be out for the Liverpool game. These are some massive, massive games. They're also going to be missing their key man up front for. Yeah, listen, this is a player who is one of our most reliable sources, one-on-one danger, final ball, quality, finishing, goals, contributions. He provides and offers, you know, a lot to this team and has done for years. And we've seen it, like Lee was saying, the criticism he's had this season. But I think he's our top goalscorer, you know, which goes to show when he's not playing well, how good he still actually is. It's It's going to be a huge miss. But this is a game and these are going to be games where everyone was talking before about Eberechi Eze. Is he getting game time? We need to see more. Well, here you go, mate. Here's your chance. Madueke. Here's your chance. Well, that's what I was going to ask. That was going to be the question I was going to ask. Can we cope without Saka? Because, you know, we're going to have to now. But have we got enough? To cope with that, what are the options? What would you do? I mean, both of you. I mean, can we cope with that? Well, we'll see. We coped with that in last season on occasion. As a matter of fact, he'd done very, very well. I'm a little bit more worried about it this year because if you remember, there was a few games Martinelli played out there on the right-hand side. We haven't got that option no more. So we have left ourselves very, very short in those areas. And if you think like Zolis is out as well, so he is really now. We've got Madueke, we're going to have to fit Eze in there, and Max Dowman, who's young. Well, a lot of people have been screaming for Max Dowman to play. Yeah, well, he's going to get his opportunity now. I think even, like, I hear there's rumblings behind the scenes that, you know what I mean, that Dowman's not had enough. I think rightly so, just think about it. I watched him at Ipswich where he was man of the match, put in an unbelievable performance. That was in the number 10 position. It was in the number 10 position. He's hardly had a kick since then. Hardly had a kick since then. So there is an argument that he deserves some sort of game time. Listen, I think Marty mentioned it earlier, he's going to get game time today. You can't have your two wide players on for 90 minutes after having them on for all that time in by a minute. There's going to have to be some sort of rotation there. So he's going to get his opportunity today. Listen, as far as I'm concerned, I think he can take it. But I think that when you've got a player like Saka not playing, I think it's a silly question, Robbie. Of course you're going to miss him. I think you are. Max Dowman. Do you think he can step into that position, like starting games? 100%. Listen, it doesn't matter for me. It doesn't matter how old you are. If you're good enough, you're good enough. It's as simple as that. The only thing is the rigours and the pressures on your body, obviously, where he's 16 years old. Well, that's right. I mean, these are some of the factors, though, isn't it? When we say, you know, can he step in and start games? Because not just as well going forward, it's the work Saka does getting back as well, you know? Can he handle that load? We're going to find out. It's as simple as that. We have been left short now. You know, like he said, with Solis out injured. You know, listen, dare I say it. Solis is getting near to coming back this time. You know what I mean? So Solis will be back soon. But... You know, in that right-hand position, you know, right side of position, you've got Matt Awakey, you've got Dalman, I guess. So there are two players there. There are, but on the left-hand side at the moment, we've got Eze, who can play there. Yeah, well, Solis is coming back. I know, but he's not back now, is he? We've still got some games. There is room. I think he could be, yeah, he could even be back today. Oh, OK. There is room, but not under the sun. Although they probably, probably, I think they probably keep him back till, um... Then we've got a game against Fleetwood on Tuesday, which that was an ideal game to rotate the entire squad pretty much. But obviously there's going to be some, you know, I'd imagine Eze, Madwakey, Downman, one of those three. Then you've got away at Liverpool. That's never an easy game. It's going to be a hard, tough game. And what you don't want is one of these other players, either Madwakey, Downman or Eze breaking down, because then we could potentially have a serious problem. Well, that's why you've got a squad. Yeah. For me personally, right, lots of people, City have just scored early in Haaland, as usual. Thank you. But for me, right, I look on it and say this, all right, Saka's out, right? I mean, lots of fans moaning, saying that Saka, you know, Max Dahlman deserves a start. Now he's going to get his opportunity. This is why you have a squad. We've got Max Dahlman, we've got Madda Wake. We're very lucky that in that position, there's two players. that can play in that position so you know i i i think uh and you know it's earlier on in the season as well so i think this is a a big opportunity for both Max Dowman and Madueke now is your chance now you're going to get your consistent chance one of you take it and take that chance you know well Izzy is on the left hand side i'm more talking about right hand side now there's two options for that right hand side one of you Go and take that. Go and make that your position. A bit like what we've seen with Ezri Konsa. Where he has played so well that there's an argument now when Saliba comes back. We would never be saying that normally, innit? But there's an argument when Saliba comes back to say, oh well, does he come straight back in? As good as he is. So can one of those two, Madueke or Dowman, do the same thing? Yeah, look, I fully rate Max Dowman. I think he is an absolutely phenomenal talent and if he keeps the trajectory that he's shown us over this next season and into, you know, you've got a serious player, already you've got a serious player in your hands. You've seen him open up teams, you've seen him running behind, you've seen him with fantastic touches, beautiful, you know, this guy, he's one of those football players that the ball sticks to his feet. And the level of skill that he possesses, and if he can, you know, continue to replicate that for Arsenal, then he could be, you know, we might not end up missing Dakar. I ain't got no worries if Max Dowse was starting today. At any stage of the season, any game, if he plays, you know what I mean? Like, you know, obviously at this moment in time, he's going to start against Fleetwood, I would imagine. But for me, if he was starting today or he comes on, I'm willing for him to come on. I think he's a tough one. I don't care how old he is. He's good enough. OK, Jason 6251 says, Robbie, you're deluded. We ain't got no left options. He's focused on the right. Well, didn't Eze just have an unbelievable game in the Allianz Arena, playing on the left, scored, had a brilliant game against one of the best teams in Europe by a minute. He did, but he's had more worse games out. Yeah, but that's an option though, isn't it? It's an option. When someone says we have no options... Well, of course it's an option. Of course we have options. On that left-hand side, we've got him and Zolis is out. He's come in. Madueke, he can play on that left as well. They may not be, you know, unbelievable options, right? But they're good options, right? And it's for those players, I keep saying it, it's for those players when they come in now to go and prove yourself that you deserve to be playing. I mean, you know, let's have a sort of wider look at...