{"id":1366403,"date":"2024-10-21T20:45:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T19:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1366403"},"modified":"2024-10-21T20:16:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T19:16:45","slug":"arsenal-bukayo-saka-fitness-update-mikel-arteta","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/arsenal-bukayo-saka-fitness-update-mikel-arteta\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth highlighted Mikel Arteta’s huge Bukayo Saka “flow” problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal fans had their fears about how they’ll cope without Bukayo Saka confirmed in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saka has been on fire for the Gunners so far this season, notching two goals and seven assists in seven Premier League appearances and topping the pile in the English top flight for chances created (27).<\/p>\n

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However, Saka limped out of England’s recent Uefa Nations League clash with Greece after sustaining a hamstring injury, with all of a Gunners persuasion left sweating over this fitness. As it happens, the 23-year-old was unfit to face Bournemouth, leaving a huge gap on Mikel Arteta’s right flank.<\/p>\n

Raheem Sterling was the man trusted to fill that gap, making just his second Premier League start since joining Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.<\/p>\n

Sterling’s previous start came from the left flank in a 3-1 win over Southampton and the 82-time England international showed plenty of promise, completing a match-high four dribbles, attempting two shots and creating one chance.<\/p>\n

But the trip to Bournemouth was a completely different story. Ok, so Sterling lasted just 37 minutes before he was sacrificed to get another defender on the pitch following William Saliba’s red card. However, during those 37 minutes, he was almost completely ineffective, failing to attempt a shot or create a chance, while misplacing four of his 10 passes, completing just one dribble and having only 15 touches of the ball.<\/p>\n