Mikel Arteta says turning players into physical “monsters” is the only way to stave off injuries given the fixture pile-up top-level players are facing in the coming years.
After confirming Bukayo Saka was facing “many weeks” on the sidelines with a torn hamstring, the Spaniard said player conditioning was front of mind for his staff while pointing out it’s easier said than done when the team plays every few days.
Arsenal aren’t the only side with key men sidelined and Arteta was keen to point out that it’s not necessarily the addition of extra games to this campaign that was taking a toll.
“It’s probably more the accumulation of seasons,” he told the press ahead of Friday’s clash with Ipswich.
“For example, Bukayo and Declan they played over 130 games in two seasons. So what’s gonna happen in the second one, the third one or the fourth one, if that continues the same way? Probably it’s unsustainable, unless we find ways to physically turn them into monsters that can cope with anything.
“The fact that you play and recover is not a good pattern. Because that means that you don’t train and the body needs to train, the muscle needs to train.
“You just play and recover, you start to lose a lot of factors, a lot of qualities within your body, the physical aspects that are key to performance.
“Not just to play, not to get injured, but to become a better athlete, which is very different and keep evolving as an athlete, and that’s a challenge, but okay, we’re trying to find ways to do it.”
One thing is for certain, Arteta doesn’t think the workload for elite players will be reduced anytime soon given the high-profile tournaments that have already been confirmed. While Arsenal aren’t involved, next summer’s expanded FIFA Club World Cup is a prime example of more matches being added to an already-packed calendar.
“I don’t think that will happen, I throw that through the window immediately,” he said.
“Improve the athletes and have bigger squads, the other option, I don’t see it on the table.”
As for whether the authorities are listening to the debate about player welfare, he continued: “Listening? I hope they are listening. Whoever is in charge cannot actually do something right now with the commitments that are already in place in the next three or four seasons. Very challenging, very difficult I think.
“There is always a ‘but’, we have this competition in January, the other one is going to be in June, then we have this one, then we have the World Cup. So, yes [they are listening], but no [also].”
In the short-term, Arteta’s team are examining if there’s anything else that could have been done to stop Saka suffering the injury that could derail his side’s title ambitions.
“Probably there are ways to prevent the injury,” lamented the Spaniard. “It happened very early in the match, so the fatigue element is not that important. There are other factors.
“Obviously we are looking at everything that we could have done better, differently. But there is a lot of uncontrollables as well. The action [kicking the ball] produces so much force because it’s the moment that he puts the cross in. So all the force is in the standing leg and those actions happen in football.
So, I don’t know.”
As for how Arsenal cope without Saka, that’s anyones guess. Even without Raheem Sterling, who is also injured, the Gunners have enough versatile players to plug the gap on the right flank. On Saturday, Martinelli’s audition went pretty well with the Brazilian helping himself to an assist and a goal after Saka was substituted off.
“He did really well,” agreed Arteta. “I think he did really well again the other day. He scored a goal, he created an assist and it’s a good option to have.
“We’re going to have the option to inverted footed if we need to. Another kind of profile in relation to the opposition. So, we are on it.
Gabby [Jesus] has played there, Ethan [Nwaneri] has played there, Leo [Trossard] can play there in relation to how that unit moves. Kai [Havertz] can play there, asking him different things.
“So, We’ll see, try to speak to them as well and understand how they feel about it.”
FUCKED….
Not necessarily. I don’t trust Jesus on the wing and starting consecutive games is a big ask for a 17 yr old. However, Martinelli looks much more “winger” when he’s on the right. Gives us a new dimension.
4 players for 3 positions; there’s a lot of minutes to be shared among them.
That’s actually 5, by promoting MLS & Ethan to first team we have 18 fit outfield players, may need to add another from the academy
How old is Dowman? He’s the next academy player in the pipeline that trains with the first team. Still a lot of talent in the team, obviously sucks to lose our best attacking player but let’s see what emerges from the chaos. Very interested to see Arteta’s ideas and how the players perform. We lost one, let’s see who emerges to lift the squad.
Arteta plays Saka all the time and is complaining he plays too many games?
I don’t want to minimise the impact of this injury, but I think Arsenal can cope with it better than with Ødegaard’s injury this season. Saka is a better player than anyone who replaces him, but replacing him does not change the way we play. The loss of Van Dijk a few seasons ago crippled Liverpool in a way that losing Salah does not; City won championships in years where De Bruyne–when he was at his very best–was injured hafd the season, but could not cope with Rodri’s loss this year.
interestingly all of the indispensible players you mention play in central positions whereas the bigger but sort of easier to replace superstars are wingers with the exception of De Bruyne, and the fact they were able to reproduce what he does is simply down to the fact they have an endless budget and therefore endless amount of offensive weapons. Unfortunately for them there’s only one Rodri and it doesn’t matter how much money you have, you’re not going to be able to get another. Anywho, was just watching the Dune TV show so I only came down here to the… Read more »
if anyone else was curious how that Saka-sandworm hybrid would look like, I went ahead and saved you the trouble
https://imgur.com/a/zoH590N
(at least according to ChatGPT…. feel like the facial likeness can still do with some further improvement)
To be considered a great team we have to adapt to these situations and always have a plan B. Hopefully Saka will have a speedy recovery, but we have to move on and place the responsibility to perform to the highest level on every player. This unfortunate situation will open the door for new tactics and hopefully good solution to deal with Saka’s absence.
Exactly: starting 3 central defenders and 3 “6s” with 2 inverted wingers tracking back at home to Everton wasn’t a good plan. But that’s been the MO for 5 years now.
Football is bizarre, and sometimes we’re surprised by how players or teams are transformed by circumstances. No one would choose to play without Saka, but it can force innovation, fresh patterns of play, stimulation and opportunity for certain players. We have been pretty stagnant at times and this is a good strong kick in the arse. Again, I wouldn’t choose it, but it’ll make the football interesting.
Exactly! Remember the injury crisis in 1987, every recognised midfielder at the club injured, forced to blood teenagers like Thomas, Rocastle, Hayes.. – all became title winners by the age of 20.
Don’t forget Merse as well. “George Graham’s Babes”
Has Mikel been talking to Troy Deeney? He loves a monster.
No one should have to talk to Troy Deeney
Monsters with cojones😀
Would have been perfect for Strerling with his experience. He’s less of an impact sub, but a run of starts he could’ve plugged that gap.
No, Sterling’s race is run at this level. He should be off to MLS or Saudi Arabia in the summer.
either you change it or you adapt. this “oh i wish things were different” interviews mean nothing. actually go on strike or organize something with the other clubs, or build bigger and better squads. arsenal have done neither. we knew we had to play every three days and still decided to rely on the same 19 players. i don’t like the way the club has handle this schedule issue at all
I don’t understand the downvotes. We really did go into this season underprepared, lacking 2, but really 3 players – covers for Saka and Ode + a real striker. You find players with relevant attributes for each role, have 5-6 targets for each role and go down the list until you get your (men). Then you ease the burden on those superstars in the team with subs around 60th minute + not playing them in each game where schedule is super tight, permitting them to never be in the red zone (for too long). And of course, trusting the players… Read more »
We have tried to recruit for those positions, Viera has filled both positions previously, cost over £30 but never reached he’s previous level of performance and never met the level. We took a punt, didn’t work. To recruit a sure thing with more experience would have cost double or triple that amount but why would they want to play behind Mo and Saka. We did go into the season a winger light, we profiled wingers and actively recruited two high cost wingers Nico Williams and previously Mudryk, both of who are having crap seasons. All to say, squad building not… Read more »
I don’t agree there. First, Vieira needs to be developed and trusted. He had an injury spell, but there is a good player for sure. So why letting him go and basically saying “we tried, it didn’t work out, we don’t trust in you anymore”? ‘Cause that’s what Mikel has said to him basically. I’d even make a parallel with Emile – he was amazing when Mikel came to the club, performed better than Saka, then got an injury spell and was never really trusted again, even when he was healthy for a long time. Looks like Mikel loses trust… Read more »
Do you know of anyone, worthwhile, we could have bought to replace an injured Saka and an inured Odegaard? Not sure there is many out there and if we found one, wouldn’t they have stunted the development of Nwaneri?
Out of tens of thousands of professional players across the world, I am sure our scouting network should be more than capable to have data on those with relevant profiles, both looking at those ready made ones as well as junior ones with potential… Not my job, but they are there. Going into the season selling Emile, Reiss, Eddie and loaning out Vieira while not replacing them (Merino is more of a DM/workhorse in my book) is aiming for failure. And Ethan wasn’t used by Mikel when Ode was injured, so clearly he wasn’t really a replacement for Ode, at… Read more »
Unless we have some secret Frankenstein juice being cooked up at London Colney, having a bigger squad is the only solution I’m afraid.
Yes. But you still want the best 11 every game, if every point matters.
I bemoan our not using players like smith Rowe last season. But given how close it was and the points it took to be competing till the last day… how can you say anything should’ve been done differently?
Exactly – everyone loose their minds when we try something new also. Can’t be both ways. Saka is an elite winger in world football – he’s going to have some injuries to deal with along the way. But he is hungry to play and win – not worried about this one to be honest. Man deserves some time off to rebuild his body. Would be great if there were a built in break in the calendar for everyone to do just that – but alas…($$$).
Could just have invested more in the attacking areas then we wouldn’t have to overplay certain players
If only it was that easy
Our 2 most important offensive players. Odegaard and Saka. And we don’t have backups for either of them. Won’t make that mistake again this summer. Or maybe we will.
Need central contacts like rugby if we continue with international overmasters or continue with club pay masters leaving uefa and fifa.
The present system of 3 masters none caring about the longtime players health is a recipe for doom!!!