The curse of hamstring injuries at Arsenal does not seem to end.
The excitement prior to their 2-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday evening was aimed at the return of Bukayo Saka.
His three-month absence because of a hamstring-proan, which required surgery, was felt badly by the Gunners who fell from the Premier League title of the title at the time.
Yet the boost was replaced and scored in the 66th minute – his return collected a reception that was suitable for a royal of the home crowd – was moistened by what happened in the first half. Gabriel, the radiant light of Arsenal in the backline this season, had tied the back of his right leg with a hamstring injury.
He beat the field and went straight through the tunnel. To get the issue so fast before their two-legged Champions League quarter final draw against Real Madrid, the first stage next Tuesday, is cruel. The hope of the North -London club was already somewhat careful.
The competition is the last real hope of the Gunners on silverware this season. Without Gabriel – it is difficult to see him return in such a short period of time – their chance of progression has been heavily reduced.
The injury reflects the season of Arsenal in many ways; A huge obstacle just when things seem to move in the right direction. And a hamstring is again the problem.
Earlier in the season, the ankle injury of Martin Odegaard left a gaping hole in midfield for two months in September. Mikel Arteta had to become centrally creative and Thomas Pardeny shifted back to the right.
They eventually got Odegaard in November, but then lost Saka to a hamstring injury at the end of December. To make matters worse, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus would occur the next six weeks thereafter, Havertz also fell to a hamstring problem that has excluded him for the season.
It has led Mikel Merino to be used as an improvised number nine. In all honesty, Merino is skillfully performed and has been hit so far six competition goals. But he played as a striker was never the plan.
Now the defense is heavily affected by the loss of Gabriel. The partnership of his and William Saliba has formed the foundation of Backline that Arsenal largely kept up after injuries.
Prior to their second stage against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last 16, Saliba admitted that Gabriel played better this season than he did. He is so important for this team.
It raises the question: how much is the player's workload an influence on Arsenal's Golf of Hamstring Injury?
Often this season, the luxury of rotation is not particularly available to Arteta due to injuries. But the intensity of training and resting and recovery lengths must be viewed well.
However, the last word must go to Saka, with the story that has centered around his return.
He looked powerful in his cameo, shot the right wing and scoured inside in pace, as he often does. His goal, a neat header on the rear post of Gabriel Martinelli's film, turned off a good personal evening for the winger. Restoring an operation to full match fitness can be heavy, and even more if you are such an important player for a team.
In the 16 games that the 23-year-old was available in the competition for Arsenal, they scored 34 goals at a speed of 2.1 per match.
In the 13 that he missed, the Gunners 19 scored at a speed of 1.5 per match – that is a big drop.
However, Arteta will be sleepless for the time being when Gabriel returns.
Comments