Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta slammed for ignoring ‘wound up fans’ in Sevilla win

11/09/2023

Gabby Agbonlahor has taken aim at Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for not taking Bukayo Saka off sooner in their win over Sevilla with the winger limping off the pitch towards the end of the game. Saka now faces a race against time to prove his fitness in time to play in Arsenal’s next fixture against Burnley on Saturday.

The England star has been Arsenal’s main source of goals this season, scoring six and providing seven in all competitions. His performances have helped keep Arsenal fighting at the top of the table after 11 games while they’ve all but sealed their place in the Champions League knockout stages with the win over Sevilla.

Saka wrapped up all three points against the Spanish side in the 65th minute with Arsenal cruising at that point. But he was forced off the pitch with a worrying injury before the match ended, which Agbonlahor felt could have easily been avoided by Arteta simply giving his star man a rest.

Agbonlahor started on talkSPORT: “You know what winds me up and Arsenal fans are getting wound up about it.

“You see two subs getting ready. [Fabio] Vieira, Reiss] Nelson and you’re thinking ‘Saka’s gonna come off and you can rest him’.

“Who comes off? [Leandro] Trossard and [Gabriel] Martinelli. Give Saka a rest! He doesn’t wanna bring him off!”

Arteta has seemingly downplayed Saka’s injury concern, suggesting it was just a knock from the persistent challenges he faced in the game.

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“It was just a kick and I was told by the physios on the radio he wasn’t happy to continue,” he said.

“So he will have some discomfort but hopefully I am going to assume he will be OK.”

Saka wasn’t the only player to come off the field with an issue as Takehiro Tomiyasu also experienced some discomfort in the first half.

Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus also missed the visit of Sevilla and there are doubts on whether they could return in time to face Burnley.

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