‘I can’t believe it’ – Mikel Arteta blamed for huge Arsenal blow
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Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara says Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must take some responsibility for Bukayo Saka’s huge injury blow. Saka was forced off during Arsenal’s Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on December 21 and missed the win over Ipswich Town on Friday night.
![[Crystal Palace FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2190996455.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Arteta initially said Saka would be out for ‘many weeks’ but then revealed his player had undergone surgery, meaning he might not be back until March. Saka posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed on Saturday evening after his operation and vowed to come back stronger from the setback.
The 23-year-old has been one of the most influential players in the Premier League in recent years, starring for an Arsenal side that have challenged for the title over the last three seasons. Saka had scored five goals and made 10 assists in 16 league games before tearing his hamstring during the victory over London rivals Palace.
O’Hara believes it was inevitable that Saka would suffer a serious injury at some stage given the amount of football he has played and says ‘both Mikel Arteta and the fixture list are to blame’. ‘It was always going to happen, Arsenal have got themselves to blame,’ he told Grosvenor Sport.
‘Mikel Arteta has played him every single week, including games where you don’t need to play him, like Carabao Cup games. ‘The earlier rounds of those competitions should be used to rotate players, I can’t believe he’s played in all their Carabao Cup games!.
