Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has disclosed that he desperately needed the return of Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori as the club deals with a crowded, critical April/May schedule.
Recall that the quartet were absent in the Gunners’ 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in Saturday’s Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium due to injury.
Speaking with the club’s website, Arteta said he needed all his first-choice players back for the remaining games this season.
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“We need everything, first of all, we need everybody fit and available,” he said.
“So the ones that are not involved, the ones that are not with us, that are really big, important players, we need them immediately with us because then we’re going to be much stronger.
“And then the other ones, they need to stand up, me, the first one, and embrace this challenge and go for it.
“So today we have to suffer. It’s painful, it’s a terrible feeling, but tomorrow is a different day, and if somebody had said to me in August, we are in this position right now in April, I’m sure we would all take it.”
