3 Arsenal players who must step up in Bukayo Saka's absence

It's Christmas 2024 and Manchester City are seventh amid their bid to claim a fifth successive Premier League title. Arsenal must be laughing. This was meant to be their year, right?

Right?

Sit down, young child. Allow me to let you down easy.

After back-to-back second place finishes, this may well have been Arsenal's year and optimists will suggest it could still be, but the Gods are conspiring against us.

While we did forget that Arne Slot was inheriting a bloody good football team, there have undoubtedly been mitigating circumstances for Arsenal's good but not great 2024/25 thus far. Pedantic red cards thwarted any early season momentum from developing and Martin Odegaard's injury meant it was a slog of an autumn.

A full-back crisis has been somewhat alleviated, but the Gunners have most recently received the most crushing of blows. Many would argue that William Saliba is the one superstar Arsenal can't afford to lose, but that may be because we're yet to endure an Arsenal team without Bukayo Saka for a sustained period.

Oh, but we'll soon learn. A torn hamstring means it'll likely be a matter of months not weeks in regards to his return, and while the majority will be desperate for the club to supply mitigation in the January transfer window, Arteta has insisted his focus will be on maximising those already at his disposal.

Here are three Gunners who must step up in Saka's absence.

1. Gabriel Martinelli

We're going to see plenty of Martinelli down the right over the next few weeks. We saw the Brazilian line up on his 'natural' side on the last day against Everton and he switched over to that flank on Saturday in the 5-1 win at Crystal Palace.

It's not been a good season for Martinelli thus far, but perhaps an altered role and the increased responsibility will be the making of him. The Brazilian's function would perhaps be more simple and focussed around hitting the byline and teeing onrushing teammates on for cutbacks. Crucially, he must back himself one-on-one.

Speaking on utilising Martinelli down the right, Arteta said: "It’s a good option to have. We’re going to have options to play both-footed as well, if we need to, another kind of profile in relation to the opposition.”

However, for the Brazilian to be a success on the opposite side, the boss cannot expect a Saka-like ability to grab games by the scruff of the neck. Connections and combinations will be hugely important for the Brazilian to thrive, and it may take a little while for those to develop.

2. Martin Odegaard

Saka rose to the forefront while Odegaard missed two months in the autumn with an ankle injury. Despite being without his primary supplier, Saka recorded seven goal contributions in nine Premier League and Champions League outings.

He did only score twice during those outings, but there's no denying that Saka was almost wholly responsible for keeping Arsenal afloat while Odegaard sat out.

Now it's time for the skipper to return the favour.

As I've noted, it's going to take time for new partnerships to form down the right, but Odegaard, given his status and ability, shouldn't need too long to blossom in tandem with a fresh face. The Norwegian skipper played a pivotal role in the Gunners' upsurge post-November international break and we could see more of him in a deeper, metronomic role in a bid to assert greater control on contests and outmanoeuvre the opposition's midfield.

Odegaard has all the ability in the world, and in the absence of his partner in crime down the right, now's the time for him to take charge and ensure Arsenal escape the next few weeks/months unscathed.

3. Raheem Sterling

There was a rare Raheem Sterling sighting during the Carabao Cup quarter-final triumph over Crystal Palace, but the winger wasn't involved at Selhurst Park at the weekend.

Arteta has since confirmed that Sterling was left out due to a knee complaint, and it may be a couple of weeks before the loanee is back in action again.

The setback arrives a desperately bad time given the latest surrounding Saka. This could've been Sterling's time to roll back the years and supply the required cover for Arsenal's 23-year-old superstar. I thought there were bright sparks last Wednesday.

The Englishman's addition has so far been hopelessly futile, but I can only hope he recovers relatively quickly to offer another option for Arteta down the right. Even if Martinelli impresses, Arsenal otherwise don't have many alternatives. He can't run the Brazilian into the ground, too!

READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS HERE!