Mikel Arteta is flirting with disaster even while Arsenal keep winning

Perhaps he just believes in his grind.

Arsenal put huge effort into bolstering their squad depth last summer and, on Tuesday night, Mikel Arteta faced his toughest team selection yet – but not due to choice; rather, it owed to a mammoth injury list.

He had to contend with EIGHT absentees in Czechia – made up of seven injuries and one suspension for Martin Zubimendi – and so he will no doubt be thrilled that his much-changed Gunners side could still power through to claim a big 3-0 win.

But Arteta did flirt with disaster here – why on earth did Bukayo Saka remain on the pitch in Prague?

It made sense to start Saka given how a top-eight spot is yet to be confirmed (not for long, one might suspect) and it was his cool head and composure which got Arsenal that all-important goal from the penalty spot.

Mikel Arteta flirted with disaster by fielding Bukayo Saka for the full match versus Slavia Prague

But to make him play the full 90 minutes seems strange. Not only is it questionable in the context of this match – a contest that was effectively over once Mikel Merino headed in the third on 68 minutes – but even more so in light of the club’s aforementioned injury crisis; it was as recent as Monday that Viktor Gyokeres became the latest star to be ruled out until after the November international break.

Granted, the boss was hardly overwhelmed with others to pick; the bench itself consisted of just Max Dowman, Charles Sagoe Jr. and Andre Harriman-Annous for attacking choices, with Eberechi Eze used to replace a yellow-carded Ethan Nwaneri in midfield.

All three youngsters boast experience of playing on the RW and, despite possible concerns over their readiness for first-team football, two of the three came off the bench at the Fortuna Arena. Their arrivals signalled Arteta’s own recognition of the fact that the game had already been won but Saka still did not ‘earn’ a late withdrawal.

Maybe it should not come as a surprise because, before the first leg against PSG last April, the boss outlined why he picks names even when there are risks involved: “They are at their best when they are playing and they have consistency in their performances and physically and emotionally they are good.”

He wants his key men to play if/when available and history tells us that few players know that better than Saka.

It seems like a needless risk and the pitchforks would have been out if Saka had suffered an issue in the final stages. Thankfully, neither Arsenal nor Arteta paid the price for that ‘bold’ choice and he will be ready to go for Sunderland this weekend.

Onto the next one.