Bukayo Saka hasn’t been lucky in the last few games. He finished the NLD 2-2 draw with Spurs with an injury; he couldn’t finish our 4-0 win over Bournemouth due to injury, and on Tuesday night, he had to be subbed off due to yet another injury in the 34th minute of the 2-1 Lens loss.
There’s a big possibility he won’t be available for our game against Manchester City.
Of course, his absence is concerning because he is a cog in Arteta’s project.
We were toothless in our Champions League loss to Lens after the 22-year-old was replaced. He was influential early in the game, since it was he who set up Gabriel Jesus to give us the lead, even though the French side equalised minutes later, before scoring the winner in the second half.
If Saka is ruled out for the Manchester City game, Arteta may be forced to make a decision this weekend. With that established, who can fill in for our starboy?
1. Reiss Nelson
Saka was subbed off in the 27th minute of our 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest last season (on October 30th), with what appeared to be an injury. Reiss Nelson took his spot and ran the show on the right wing. Though we’ve seen him mostly on the left wing this season, where he’s looked dangerous, he could also play on the right wing, and, remembering how he scored a brace in that Forest win last season, he may be a good alternative for our star boy.
2. Kai Havertz
If there was ever a moment to try out the German international on the wing, this is it. So far, Arteta has preferred to use him as an attacking midfielder. He hasn’t shone in the role, but the hope is that he will improve with time. There’s no harm in experimenting with him on the right wing. The silver lining in our signing of Havertz was that he could play wherever in attack; now could be the time for him to show us that. With him on the right wing, Fabio Vieira could fill in at midfield.
3. Fabio Vieira
The Portuguese international for a number of games has replaced Saka. Many have dismissed Vieira as Saka’s backup, but what do they think of Vieira being introduced and playing on the right wing in the previous few games he’s come on for Saka?
These are the three players we could consider that might replace Saka on the right wing if he is unable to play in our must-win game against Manchester City.
Who would you like to see on the right wing?
Darren N
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Jesus could play there with Nketiah at centre forward
This is the best IMHO too.
The best from a choice of bad options
Arleta might go with this team –
Nketiah.
Trossard. Odegaard. Jesus.
Havertz. Rice.
Zinchenko. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Raya.
Just remove Haverzt and replace him with Partey and we are good to go 😁
To beat Man City we can’t play their stile of play. We needed fast wingers to run their dig fence wit counters as Wolves did.
We try match them on style we loose.
Teams with styles suited to beat city are May be Tots and Pool.
With Martinelli injured, we have no runners.
At far too long last, surely Nelson must get his first proper and long overdue chance to showcase his abilities. Neither Havertz nor Viera are even wide players at all, let alone wingers. And neither one hasANY pace at all
So, when you have a REALISTIC field of only ONE sensible candidate, why on Earth would any wise manager prefer midfielders- neither of whom have done much at all, so far- to a specialist and scandalously overlooked winger.
Could not agree more. However, not 100% confident, Arteta will do the logical thing.
Use Nelson and ESM
………………..Jesus.
Trossard. Odegaard. Nelson.
Smith-Rowe. Rice.
Tomiyasu. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
……………………Raya.
Spot on!
Nelson/Trossard. Havertz. Jesus
ESR. Rice. Odegard
Tomiyasu Gabriel. Saliba Pathey
Raya
Ramsdale,
White,Saliba,Gabriel, Kwior,
Odegaard, Partey, Rice.
Jesus, Nketiah, ESR.
Jesus
ESR Odegaard Nelson
Partey Rice
Zinch Gab Saliba White
Ramsdale
I second you with ths first 11
Raya
White Saliba Magalhaes Tomiyasu
Jorginho Rice
Jesus Odegaard Trossard
Havertz
I think Reis Nelson should take Saka’s place, to be replaced by Viera if necessary.
One thing for sure, Havertz cannot play against MCity, fit or otherwise. His poor form, poor work rate, merely makes everyone else work twice as hard and look bad if they don’t.
Nelson or Jesus in my opinion.
Jesus, is the obvious choice at RW. Nelson or Trossard at LW. Trossard or Nketiah at CF. The big problem will be Haverz. If Partey is fit, the obvious thing is play a midfield of Partey, Rice and Odergaard. I think Saka will be fit though, so n shake up needed, up front.
Let Nelson replace saka
Jesus for me.
Arteta must ring the changes to this game for sure; if Partey is fit play him against midfield of Rice and Odegaard,Jesus on right wing, Trossard/ Martinelli (if fit to play) on left wing then play Havertz as a false nine since this will Mancity defenders headache on whom to mark since all our attacking players will be interchanging positions
Has to be Nelson. I think he has the ability and the burst of pace you need in a winger. I have always rated his ability but questioned where his head was at. He deserves his chance over anyone else. And if not Nelson I would go with ESR before Viera on the wing.
I’ll go with this,
Nelson. Havertz. Jesus
ESR. Rice. Partey/Jorginho
Kiwior. Gabriel. Saliba. White
Raya
I want to see Benardo Silva frustrated in the match,
Akanji is very tough, I doubt Trossard would get passed him.
Odegaard seems to varnish against tough teams,so we could get in Smith-rowe.
The Saka injury is all because of Arteta’s insistence on playing him continuously without any rest. There were games and moments where Saka need not have played and with this kind of non stop play it is bound to add stress and strain on the body. I would prefer Nelson on the right wing with Jesus and Trossard making up the front 3. Please dont play Havertz, play a midfield of Rice, Partey and Odegaard.
We already beat City this season with Havertz playing CF so why not repeat the same trick? Nelson or Jesus can play Saka’s position and Trossard can play the LWF role.
IMO Nketiah and Havertz should not be in the same XI.