The Mikel Merigol's Footboned Injury Thread: Page 161 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

The Mikel Merigol's Footboned Injury Thread

lorddulaarsenal

Claudius it’s a massive problem. I don’t think we’ve been able to field our true first team all season

Tam

We've been without key players enough over the last few years, probably starting with Salba's absence in the title run of 22/23 as being the most significant in recent times, that it's now not a bug it's a feature of the system Arteta has.

He was backed heavily in the summer to bolster his squad to mitigate absence, injury and fitness issues.

His job isn't to win the Premier League or Champion's League when he has his first XI available, it's to win by using his squad to it's maximum potential.

If he does, then super and I'll give him his credit for doing so. If he doesn't, the injury issues don't wash with me.

Gurgen

The thing is that no matter the squad you have, you need your big guns fit for most of the season to win things. No team in history has won major titles with their two most important attacking players being out for most of the season.

Claudius

Gurgen The thing is that no matter the squad you have, you need your big guns fit for most of the season to win things. No team in history has won major titles with their two most important attacking players being out for most of the season.

It’s as simple as this. People really misunderstand the value of depth. It’s an insurance policy. But you need your best out there together as often as possible

Tam

Saka has played about 70% of the available games/minutes so far. He's not been out most of the season.

Odegaard has, point taken, but that's part of the reason we bought Eze, who at one point was seen or tipped by many as taking Odegaard's place in the team. Eze wasn't someone seen as coming in to warm the bench for Odegaard or Martinelli. He was expected to be of a level to contribute as a big gun.

Gurgen

Saka has played most of his games half fit. He's this team's main guy. If Henry had the season he had in 03-04, we wouldn't have won anything.

Tam

Claudius people don’t misunderstand the value of depth at all. They just expect the manager to use it wisely and not have our half-fit talisman playing every minute of games he starts if he’s truly only half fit.

I share this desire to get a fit Odegaard back out there. I’m a big fan of his. But at this point it’s 50/50 whether we really see that player back, or whether we’re left with a wrecked body that isn’t up to the demands of being the creative fulcrum and ticking heard of a title challenging team. Same goes for Havertz. And Saka for that matter. They’ve everything to prove in terms of fitness and form to show they can get back to the levels we’re hoping for, as at the present time it is just hope as much as anything else because recently their history in returning from injuries is showing for cause for concern than reasons to be cheerful.

Gurgen

My biggest fear is that these guys are indeed fucked long term. And I don't see how we are immediately going to replace Odegaard and Saka short term because we're not signing Guler and Olise any time soon. At least we have Max in the pipe line, as long as Arteta doesn't send him to Marseille.

FantasticMrFox

awooga83

It's difficult to not think even if somehow he becomes available Saka is just not going to be playing a meaningful role this season. Whatever the injury issues he's struggling with he's unlikely to just be at the necessary level when he comes back so it looks like we are going to be trying to get over the line without his input.

JazzG

awooga83 Have to look after his long term health, as desperate as we are for him we need him back to his best long term for us.

awooga83

JazzG oh I agree I think I'm more frustrated this was probably already the case I think we could have managed it better earlier. We also need to make sure we add some real additional attacking quality

JazzG

awooga83 I think Madueke missing 2 months earlier in the season didn't help either. Saka had just come back from injury and as a result had to play Saka every week. Ideally he would have been eased in and rotated out a lot more.

Sicario2

JazzG

Old footage has been community noted. Would love for him to be back though...

Sicario2

daredevil

Sicario2

He said that last time and was out for a month.

Sicario2

daredevil at the end of the game he was clapping the fans so hopefully he will be ok for Wed and beyond

Big Willie

daredevil He said that last time and was out for a month.

True, but then again who knows, maybe he was taken off as a precaution but ended up being sidelined for a month because of his loose lips to the press after the game. One of Mikel's non negotiables is not to leak info.

Sicario2

We need the best striker at the club to come back asap 🙏

JazzG

Sicario2 Not sure about best, most clinical probably at the club. Merino had plenty of stinkers playing up front for us but he is clinical.

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