The main focus after the Champions League loss for Arsenal was the latest injury suffered by their star winger Bukayo Saka, who was substituted in the first half.
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Arsenal suffered an unlikely 2-1 defeat in the Champions League group stage against Lens. They both played out an entertaining contest which was eventually won by the French side. Going into the fixture, a lot of people backed Arsenal to get the three points due to their recent impressive form in domestic football. However, the Gunners were unable to reach their usual high level, as they lost the game.
The main focus after the Champions League loss for Arsenal was the latest injury suffered by their star winger Bukayo Saka, who was substituted in the first half. “He tried to backheel the ball in the first half and felt something, it was something muscular and he was uncomfortable to carry on so we had to take him off,” Mikel Arteta, quoted by Arsenal.com said during the post-match press conference.
He added: “We don’t know anything more than that, obviously it was big enough not to allow him to continue to play the game and that’s obviously a worry for us.” When asked whether he would be able to play at the weekend, the manager replied, “I have no clue, I don’t know.”
Arteta was also asked whether he regrets starting Saka. “No, it was a knock that he picked up the other day, and he was perfectly fine. It wasn’t an action, it was a backheel that can produce that type of injury. Let’s see what the extent of it is, and afterwards, it was too late as well.”
The Arsenal manager was further questioned whether the Champions League fixture was affected by the travel disruptions delaying preparations. Arteta responded, “No, let’s not make excuses. First of all congratulations to Lens, they are a really good side, really well coached, we knew it was going to be a really tough match, I think we started the game and straight away got a grip of the game, scored the goal, the most difficult thing and we were in total control of the game. In one isolated situation we conceded and it was game on. We started the second half really good again, and have a huge chance with Leo to make it 2-1.”
He added: “Not only that we were preparing the subs as well, Tomiyasu had a big chance and when they went the other way they just scored the goal. The difference between today and PSV is clear. The difference was in the boxes, we had four or five big chances and didn’t put them away, and we didn’t defend the boxes well enough. It’s true that there were moments in the second half we struggled to be more of a threat in the final third, and attack certain spaces, otherwise they defended those numbers really well and that’s something to take for the next game.”
It is not easy for any side to play at Lens due to the difficult atmosphere which is normally created by their supporters. Asked whether the atmosphere had any effect, Arteta replied, “Obviously, the atmosphere I imagine is a big energy boost. We knew that they were one of the best, I knew that since I played in this country that it [the atmosphere] is one of the best in the country. It was great to play in and embrace that moment and play in that atmosphere. In a lot of moments, we quietened the crowd, but after we gave them life in those two situations where we conceded the goals.”
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