Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury during Arsenal’s Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. Manager Mikel Arteta has offered an update on the situation, confirming that the star player will be unavailable for “many weeks.”

Saka was substituted in the first half of the match at Selhurst Park. Despite his early exit, Arsenal secured an emphatic 5-1 victory, but Arteta acknowledged the challenge of coping without the influential attacker during a demanding stretch of fixtures.

“It’s not looking good; he’s going to be out for many weeks,” Arteta told reporters post-match. When discussing how the team will adapt, he added, “I’m brainstorming a few ideas. I haven’t finalized anything yet, but I’ve got some plans.

“I’ll also involve the players in this process and approach it positively,” the Spaniard continued. “This will bring changes to our dynamic. We’ve dealt with absences before, such as when Martin [Odegaard] was out or when we missed multiple defenders. We’ll take on this challenge with a constructive attitude.”

Adding to the injury concerns, Arsenal were also without loanee Raheem Sterling during the Crystal Palace clash. “Raheem was ruled out the day before the game, and we’re unsure about the timeline for his return,” Arteta said. “Losing two key players within 24 hours is a setback, but given the intense schedule, it’s not entirely unexpected.”

The Gunners face a packed calendar, starting with a home match against Ipswich Town on December 27. This will be followed by away games against Brentford and Brighton to kick off the new year.

Arsenal’s squad has endured a string of injury setbacks this season. Captain Martin Odegaard was sidelined for two months after sustaining an ankle injury during international duty in September. His return has coincided with an unbeaten run in seven league games, as well as Arsenal’s progression to the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

The defensive unit has also been hit hard by injuries. Takehiro Tomiyasu has managed just one appearance this season, while Ben White has been out of action for over six weeks and remains unavailable. White underwent surgery to address recurring issues earlier in the season, with Arteta confirming in November that his recovery would take several months.

“Ben’s injuries have been varied, and there hasn’t been consistent improvement,” Arteta explained. “We reached a point where prioritizing his long-term health became necessary.”

As Arsenal navigate these challenges, Arteta’s focus remains on maintaining the team’s momentum and finding effective solutions to keep their campaign on track across all competitions.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, now overseeing football operations at Manchester United, is standing firm in his decision to let new manager Ruben Amorim take full control of team matters. This includes the controversial omission of Marcus Rashford, who was left out of the squad yet again during United’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.

Rashford, a prominent figure at Old Trafford, has now been benched for the third consecutive match, a run that began with his exclusion from the Manchester derby—a game United won. Amorim has publicly pointed to concerns over Rashford’s training performances and his interactions with teammates as reasons for his decisions. Despite the high-profile nature of Rashford’s absence, Ratcliffe has remained resolute in his support of Amorim’s autonomy, refraining from any interference in squad selection.

The January transfer window, set to open in less than two weeks, could potentially mark a turning point for Rashford. The striker recently made headlines by expressing his openness to a “new challenge,” further fueling speculation about his future. United have reportedly set an asking price of around £40 million for the forward, but his status as one of the club’s top earners might complicate any potential transfer.

According to sources from The Telegraph, Ratcliffe and the INEOS leadership at Old Trafford have no plans to step into the fray regarding Rashford’s exile, leaving Amorim free to manage the situation as he sees fit. The manager’s approach has sparked significant debate, particularly as United’s league performance continues to falter. The team now finds itself in the bottom half of the Premier League table heading into Christmas.

When questioned about Rashford’s continued absence following the Bournemouth defeat, Amorim reiterated his position: “It’s my decision and it always will be. Selection is about finding the best solutions for the team. I’m trying different strategies with different players, and that’s my focus.”

Looking ahead to the hectic festive period, United’s next challenge comes on Boxing Day with a trip to Wolves. While squad rotation is expected due to the demanding schedule, Amorim offered no guarantees about Rashford’s return. “It depends. We will see,” he remarked when pressed about the forward’s potential involvement.

Meanwhile, former United defender Gary Neville weighed in on the situation, expressing concern about the implications for both Rashford and the club. “Rashford’s absence isn’t really a surprise anymore,” Neville said. “When a player is left out for three matches in a row, something is clearly wrong. It’s hard to see a positive outcome here for either Rashford or Manchester United. This feels like the beginning of an inevitable parting of ways.”

As the transfer window looms and United’s struggles persist, all eyes remain on Amorim and Ratcliffe to navigate this challenging period. Whether Rashford stays or goes, the decisions made in the coming weeks are set to have a lasting impact on the club’s future.

Arne Slot commended Liverpool for maintaining their position at the top of the Premier League table heading into Christmas but expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of their performance against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Reds secured an exhilarating 6-3 victory in North London. Goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai gave Liverpool a commanding 3-1 lead at halftime. Mo Salah then added two more in the second half, solidifying his place as the fourth-highest scorer in the club’s history.

Despite the dominant display, Tottenham showed resilience. Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke both found the net, narrowing the deficit before Diaz sealed the result with his second goal in the final minutes, restoring Liverpool’s three-goal cushion.

The win extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to five points. Reflecting on the match, Slot said: “For the first 60 to 65 minutes, I was incredibly impressed with what I saw. We controlled the game, and even though we were punished once for an error while playing out from the back, we deserved to go into halftime with a larger lead given the chances we created. The third goal before the break was crucial, and the fourth and fifth goals were a testament to our quality.”

However, Slot voiced frustration over Liverpool’s lapse in intensity during the latter stages. “After we made it 5-1, you could see that the players started to ease off,” he explained. “When that happens in this league, especially against a team like Tottenham, who are so dangerous with the ball, it creates opportunities for them. That’s exactly what happened, and they managed to score two goals. I was relieved when we scored the sixth to put the game beyond doubt.”

On Maintaining Focus

Slot clarified his comments about Liverpool’s apparent drop in effort. “I don’t mean to say they stopped running entirely,” he noted. “They continued to work hard, but the little things, like blocking crosses or defending the box with full intensity, started to slip. Up until that point, we were relentless, pressing and closing down every ball with two, three, or even four players.”

He acknowledged the psychological challenge of maintaining full focus with a significant lead. “It’s human nature to ease off when you’re 5-1 ahead,” Slot remarked. “In most games, that’s enough. But against a team like Tottenham, who always fight back and possess so much attacking quality, you have to stay sharp for the entire 90 minutes. They are a well-managed side and capable of creating chances against anyone. Any lapse in concentration can be costly.”

Moving Forward

Slot’s analysis underlines the importance of sustained focus and effort in every phase of the game, particularly against top-tier opponents. As Liverpool look to maintain their lead in the title race, ensuring consistency across all 90 minutes will be key to their continued success.