Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka has undergone successful surgery on his hamstring injury, but expects the Arsenal forward to be out for at least two months.
Arteta's men have been rocked by Saka's hamstring injury, which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months.
Gabriel Martinelli was given the unenviable task of filling Saka's boots on Arsenal's right side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening against Ipswich on Friday evening.
Arsenal eventually climbed to second place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win at the Emirates. In their final match of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the match midway through the opening period.
Arsenal's victory moves them within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one more game than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea after their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Afterwards, Arteta confirmed that his team will have to get used to winning games without Saka.
“I said many weeks, so I think it will be more than two months,” said the Gunners boss. “I don't know exactly how much longer. I think it will depend on how that scar tissue starts to heal. The first week or so, the mobility of that. Let's see, it's very hard to say.”
“Bukayo will be out for many weeks. I think the replacement for B [Saka] becomes the team. And that unity in particular. And make minutes together and ask different things.
“There were moments when it flowed very well, there were moments when we still have some work to do there and can improve it and adapt it to the qualities of the individuals. I'm sure we will.
“It was different [tonight]. We will develop that. We cannot isolate in the same way as Bukayo; we have to do it differently. It will take time, it's a brand new unit.”
Ipswich's defense failed to deal with Martinelli's cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard at the other end of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before throwing his cross into the penalty area for Havertz to convert within yards.
It was Havertz's third goal in four games, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who had enjoyed a whopping 91.4 percent of possession at that stage of the match, deserved.
Heading into Friday's match, Arsenal had lost just one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their victory here rarely looked in doubt after Havertz's goal.
Arteta added: “I'm very happy with the win, the clean sheet and the parts of the match. It was a very difficult opponent after a long run of games. It was about the margins, and we could have scored more, but the most important is What matters is how we handled the end of the game.
“We should have scored more, but our defensive behavior was excellent and that always gives us the chance to win games.”
Analysis: Arteta has work to do to find a formula without Saka
Arteta promised Arsenal would be “different” without Saka. He knows he has no direct replacement for the 23-year-old. However, based on this evidence, it may take some time to find a working formula in his absence as he begins a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Martinelli was chosen to take on the role of Arsenal's right winger after impressing after moving across following Saka's withdrawal in the win over Crystal Palace, but he struggled, not registering a single shot, not creating chances or even completed dribbles.
The goal came from the other end of the pitch, with Trossard storming away from Ben Johnson and sending a teasing cross into the six-yard box, where Havertz struck. But Arsenal continued to direct a greater proportion of their attacks down the right.
Martinelli wasn't the only one they were looking at. Martin Odegaard provided support and Arteta's front line was more fluid than usual, with Gabriel Jesus and Havertz also appearing on that flank and switching positions before Jesus was substituted.
Their movement caused problems for Ipswich at times, but Arsenal generally struggled to create openings, apart from a spell in the second half when they stormed the visitors' goal.
Havertz is ready to rise, but others must follow his lead
Sky Sports' Ben Grounds at Emirates Stadium:
“It's true you can't score five every week, and there was a certain satisfaction in the voices of the home fans as they chanted '1-0 to Arsenal' at the final whistle.
“This was a messy performance that Mikel Arteta has no objection to amid the busy run of games. “Tick this off and move on to the next one.
“It is a match that will not live long in the memory, but it is a match that Arsenal ultimately won thanks to Kai Havertz's elusive ball clearance.
“The German was rewarded simply for not standing still. Later his exuberance would lead to a booking, but in Saka's absence it was crucial that he continued his impressive performances throughout 2024.
“His decisive goal was his 24th goal of the calendar year – just four fewer than Saka. As long as the Starboy is out injured, Havertz must continue to find the net.”
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