Arsenal star 'likes responsibility' and is ready to step up after Bukayo Saka injury

Mikel Arteta has revealed that Gabriel Martinelli is eager to step up and fill the void left by Bukayo Saka at Arsenal. The Gunners are bracing themselves for a two-month spell without England winger Saka, who suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

This setback is a significant blow to Arsenal’s title aspirations. With Raheem Sterling also sidelined due to injury, Arteta is likely to rely on Martinelli for tonight’s match against struggling Ipswich.

The 23-year-old Brazilian forward, who was moved from the left when Saka was injured at Selhurst Park, ended the game with a goal and an assist.

Arteta said: “Gaby loves it – you give him a challenge and he wants to do it today if he can. He’s a player that likes responsibility and likes having a bigger role.

“He had a big impact in the Palace game and like other players everybody is going to have to add something else because Bukayo, who we rely a lot on, is not going to be with us.”

Arteta has faced criticism for allegedly overusing Saka to the point of exhaustion. However, the Arsenal boss insisted there were no signs of this before Saturday.

He added: “When you look at his history in six years, it is incredible. It is very difficult to find a more robust player in the league, especially at his age when the load goes up.

“Nobody knows. Maybe you think ‘I am doing everything perfect’ and ‘perfect’ is not what that muscle needs, that muscle needs something else that we cannot control.”

Arteta has other options to fill the Saka void, as Leandro Trossard and teenager Ethan Nwaneri are also capable of playing on the right. While Arsenal fans are buzzing about the 17-year-old’s potential, Arteta has urged caution. He stated: “He needs to understand a few things.

“Obviously for Ethan there’s been a massive step in the last 12 months. But he’s on the journey with us and every time he plays he changes games for the better, so that’s a really good sign.”

The Gunners are currently playing catch-up in their title race with leaders Liverpool and second-place Chelsea. Last season, the festive period proved disastrous as they suffered losses to West Ham and Fulham in the final days of December.

Reflecting on those matches, Arteta said: “Against West Ham we had the most touches in the opposition box in the history of the Premier League and lost 2-0. You go home and you cannot believe it but it was the reality.

“Then Fulham, which was also very different. There was a lot to learn from it. When asked what he had learned, Arteta simply responded: “That the ball has to be in the net!”