Mikel Arteta felt that the return of his star attacker "lifted the stadium" as Arsenal earned a win over Fulham. The team returned to action after the international break at the Emirates Stadium and took all three points in front of their fans thanks to two goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka.
It was not an ideal game for the hosts, who now must manage even more injuries. But no one could doubt the influence of their number seven. Arteta reflected on an ambivalent display with the media.
‘It’s a beautiful moment’
The Gunners have sorely missed Saka, whose tally of ten assists is still the second highest in the league despite his long-term layoff. It only took a matter of minutes for him to mark his return by putting the ball in the net, and Arteta was proud of how strong his talisman looked on the field.
“I think it's a beautiful moment to see how much our people love, respect and admire Bukayo.
“He was very positive. I think the first [game] is always the one, how am I going to feel? Because I have different opposition in front of me, different demands and pressure. He dealt with it really well.”
The manager also mentioned that his well-mannered nature has been able to raise spirits at the club.
“He's no surprise to any of us and I think the best example is his reaction. Immediately after scoring a goal, what does he do? He goes and says thank you for all the hard work that all the sports science guys, physios and everybody involved in the recovery have done for him to be in the condition he is.
“I think he lifted the stadium, the energy and it's great to have him back.”
The Spaniard spoke more about the meaning of the work that has gone into Saka's healing process. In his celebration, the winger went straight over to the dugout to embrace Sam Wilson, the lead physical performance coach, and the roadmap to recovery involves much more than treating physical wounds.
“We all love this kind of recognition and gestures because it goes beyond the professional side of it. There is a connection there that is so necessary and as well to be able to appreciate the amount of work, stress and responsibility that they have to go through because they will be like this. I hope everything goes well and the work that we've done is going to work. I was very pleased with that.”
‘That’s the downside to it’
Yet, in a season stricken with injuries, **Arsenal**could not blissfully bask in the return of their star.
Not even half time had passed before the hosts had endured a double injury scare. **Gabriel**grabbed the back of his leg as he limped off the field with a hamstring injury inside fifteen minutes. Near the half hour mark, Jurrien Timber fell with pain in his knee and could not complete the contest.
“They are two players in this team that never want to come off. Gabi felt something in his hamstring, we don't know how big that is and with Jurrien as well, he was already struggling very early in the game. He managed to continue and at some point, he couldn't, so, that's the downside to it.”
Those problems compound the issues that the squad has been facing at the back. Riccardo Calafiori buckled with a knee injury while he was on international duty with Italy. Ben White, who has been building fitness since the middle of February, was also missing from the squad with a knee niggle.
“You can imagine, we've lost four players in the defensive line in one week - Calafiori, Ben White, Jurrien and Gabi Magalhaes. We have another four that are so willing that they will do their job.”
The 43-year-old does not believe he has seen a campaign with so many injuries before. But these incidents are not the first time the manager must react to squad shortages. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Saka, and Martinelli have all been absent for long spells, preparing him for this type of crisis.
“The good thing is that it's been like this the whole season. You see Martinelli today [who] we missed for three months. You see Bukayo, four months. Jesus, almost the whole season. How we managed to be where we are with all those injuries. Ben White hasn't participated at all this season, it's what it is. We want it so much that we're going to give it a real go and we are very excited for next week.”
‘It’s been a great learning experience’
Injuries have forced the hand of the manager to trust the peripheral players in the squad. He noted the displays of two players that have gained significance in the squad in his post-match press conference.
“We have a lot of good news. Look at Mikel, look at Ethan, look at other players doing other stuff.”
Mikel Merino, the makeshift answer for the side as a striker, scored his fifth goal in the role since the trip to Dubai. Once again, Arteta admired his ability to figure out where he has to be at the right time.
“He has that capacity to score goals, to sense the danger and to move in the right moments into the right spaces. Today was a different goal but then you ask him to play as an eight and he does it perfectly and understands the timing, the position, the role. It's a joy to have players like this.”
He also praised the wingers— especially Martinelli, whose speed was the spark for the second strike.
“I thought Ethan had some really good moments. Martinelli was superb as well. You see how much we missed him, that threat, that attacking purpose that he has every time he's on the ball.”
It has been a difficult few months for the team. However, the Spaniard spoke highly of the spirit in the squad, who sit second in the league table and have something to fight for in the Champions League.
“It's been a great learning experience for us and all the coaches and staff to manage that situation. At the end the players are going to react to how we react to it. You start to feel sorry for yourself and say it's impossible, how we're going to do this, it will be impossible. But these boys don't give you the reason to act like that and look where we are in April.”
Ahead of the first leg against Real Madrid, Arteta will want answers for the back four. He is likely to call on the services of Jakub Kiwior, who came on for **Gabriel**and can deputize in several positions.
“The good thing with Jakub is that he's been very reliable. Every time we need him, he's always there, he's available and he does his job. We ask him to play as a left centre-back, as a right centre-back, as a left full-back. He's ready, he's got a smile on his face.”