How Arsenal knew they could beat Man City without Bukayo Saka amid surprise inclusion
When the Arsenal starting eleven was gradually becoming apparent ahead of the official unveiling on Sunday, it began to create something of a nervousness inside the Emirates Stadium. The supporters had an edge of apprehension knowing then that Bukayo Saka would not be available to play.
There has been so much talk of who in the Arsenal squad is the most irreplaceable. The loss of William Saliba at the end of last season proved pivotal and only hammered home the point that a lack of depth in specific positions has cost the club time and time again.
Saka, therefore, not being available to play in what, for me at least, was Arsenal’s biggest game of the season was a gargantuan blow. Mikel Arteta needed to call upon the depth in his side and even more than he already was considering Jurrien Timber is out for the majority of the season and both Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey were fit enough only for the substitutes bench.
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Saliba even was revealed to be carrying an injury that will prevent him from playing for France this month. The Arsenal squad has taken hit after hit but the internal belief within it has not been damaged by these losses and that was clear in the words of the match-winner.
football.londonheard from Gabriel Martinelli after the game as he was asked by reporters about winning without his wide partner. His answer was perfect.
“We know our potential,” he said. “We know how important he is for us.
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“We know his potential. Today we did our best, tried to win the game for our fans, for us and for B as well.”
That they did. The
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