04 March 2024 , 22:59
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Mikel Arteta allayed fears of serious injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli after Arsenal’s thumping win over Sheffield United.
Saka was withdrawn at half-time in their 6-0 win before Martinelli was substituted in the 64th minute after limping off the pitch. Their respective problems were the only negatives for the Gunners, who absolutely blew away the Premier League ’s bottom side in true style.
Martin Odegaard put them in front after five minutes before Saka was instrumental in an own goal by Omar Bogle. Martinelli scored thanks to a deflection and Kai Havertz rifled into the bottom corner before Declan Rice converted from Saka’s cutback for 5-0 at half-time.
Ben White added another goal in a much quieter second half before Arteta gave an update on the injuries to his two first-choice wide players. “Bukayo was feeling sick and wasn’t feeling right so we decided to take him off and bring Fabio in,” he told Sky Sports. “With Gabi it is just a cut. So, he had a tackle and got a slight cut. We will have to see how he is.”
Arsenal have now won their last seven Premier League matches by an aggregate scoreline of 31-3 and remain in the title race with Liverpool and Manchester City. Their fantastic form means they now have the best attacking and defensive record and Arteta was left to reflect on another eye-catching performance.
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“I loved the way the team played,” he said. “The quality we showed, the aggression with and without the ball. We were very determined from the beginning. We were all worried because it is a very tricky game against a team that had done well against some big teams as well. I am really happy with the win, the goals we scored and the clean sheet.”
Arsenal had six different goal scorers and their talent across the pitch was underlined by right-back White smashing into the bottom corner on his weaker left foot. Arteta made the decision not to sign a new striker in the January transfer window and appears to have been vindicated.
Gabriel Martinelli was helped off the pitch by medical staff (David Rogers/Getty Images)Asked about spreading goals across the pitch, he said: “We really love our players and our job is to improve them and give them the resources and to put them into situations to explore their qualities. That is what we are trying to do and to find that so many of them are scoring, it obviously creates a sense of confidence and threat around the team that anybody can score a goal.”
The Gunners play Brentford on Saturday next up and will go top of the Premier League with a win, as Liverpool play Man City on Sunday. “It is going to be tough against Brentford, it always is,” he added. “We will try to prepare for the game in the best possible way and again, play in the way we are doing and earning the right to win the game.”
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