Mikel Arteta almost threw away Arsenal's season with one foolish mistake

Arseanl may have plundered through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after beating Port Vale 2-0 last night but Arteta's risky strategy to start Bukayo Saka almost backfired.

For what seemed like an eternity, Mikel Arteta could not force himself to even look. Barely 10 metres away from where he was standing, his prize asset was writhing on the floodlit grass like a wounded gazelle.

What Bukayo Saka was even doing on the pitch in the 63rd minute of a third round Carabao Cup tie at Port Vale is utterly incomprehensible. Is Arteta currently beyond reproach for such naivety?

With Noni Madueke out for an unspecified period, pragmatism should have been at the forefront of Arteta's mind when he sat down to pick a team to start the match at Vale Park. The conversation with Gabriel Heinze should have been short. It should have gone something like this.

INT. DAY. SOMEWHERE DEEP INSIDE SOBHA REALTY TRAINING CENTRE

ARTETA - We need to get some minutes into Bukayo and increase his load. 60 minutes at Port Vale should be plenty.

HEINZE - Surely not Mikel. It's only the Carabao Cup and Noni is out for a while yet.

ARTETA - Good point 'Gabe' - If he picks up another injury we're properly [insert Spanish expletive].

HEINZE - Okay. So we can start Max or Leo?

ARTETA - Could even play Ethan out wide?

HEINZE - Good thinking. Ethan gets 60 minutes, then Max.

ARTETA - Makes sense. Neither will start against Newcastle unless we really need them.

HEINZE - Okay boss. I'll get the fitness coach to increase Bukayo's load in training.

ARTETA - Thanks 'Gabe.' You almost let me make a right howler there! What was I thinking?

Saka should never have started the match

How it actually played out, as fans – we will never know. What we do know is that there was really no need to be risking Saka in that game.

The tackle that forced Arsenal's number seven off was not a particularly horrible tackle. It was just heavy and a tad late. Saka had already shifted the ball when studs clamped down onto the top of his foot with Saka preparing to shift his balance and turn away.

As Saka yelped in pain and with Arteta struggling to even look, it seemed like the damage was much worse.

Thankfully for Saka and Arsenal, the damage didn't seem to be that bad. Gingerly, he was able to get up to his feet and play on, for a very short while at least.

Arteta is made to look rather foolish

Arteta, looking rather foolish, gave Saka a shake of the hands when he came off the pitch to be replaced by Max Dowman less than a minute later. Whether Saka will be available for Sunday's trip to St James' Park to take on Newcastle is unclear.

The Arsenal boss will need to make better decisions as the season progresses. The squad is deep. That is true. But, it is not deep enough to cope under the frequency of injuries that his squad are picking up.

Foolish decisions – like the one he made last night – could cost Arsenal a decent stab at the title. It could definitely harm the Gunners' Champions League ambitions.

If ever there was a time to be pragmatic, now is that time for Arteta. He will be judged on the big stage. The Carabao Cup, for him and Arsenal, is insignificant.