Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says losing Bukayo Saka to injury will make him a better coach.
The England winger will be sidelined for “many weeks” after tearing his Achilles tendon in Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend.
Saka’s injury came a month after captain Martin Odegaard returned from 12 games with an ankle problem.
Saka’s natural replacement, Raheem Sterling, will also be out for a while after suffering a knee injury in training.
💬 “If you don’t take risks or don’t want to take risks, you limit yourself.”
Bukayo talks about his football philosophy and the sacrifices he has made to make him the star he is 👇
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 25, 2024
But asked if his recent coaching test will make him a better coach, Arteta said: “I think so, yes. We started the season with one of the thinnest squads in the Premier League and we knew it.
“If we have the thinnest squad, what do we need? We’ve put a lot of effort into this to make sure we’re making the best use of every player and everyone feels like they’re part of it.
“You have to rediscover players in different positions and in different relationships. It’s a really good practice and the guys are willing to do whatever we ask of them, so that’s a really good thing too.”
Pressure on players is under scrutiny, with Manchester City midfielder Rodri ruled out for the rest of the season and just one of the big names to miss this year with injury.
“It (the game plan) is untenable unless we find ways to physically transform the players into monsters who can handle anything,” Arteta added.
“The fact that you train and recover is not a good pattern because the body has to train, the muscles have to train. If you only play and recover, you lose many factors in your body that are crucial to physical performance.
“Not just to play to avoid getting injured, but to become a better athlete, which is completely different, and to develop as an athlete.
“I hope the players are being listened to, but whoever is in charge, can they actually do something now with the existing commitments for the next three or four seasons? It’s very challenging and very difficult.”
