Jack Grealish plays for which team is one of the most searched football questions online, but the more immediate issue for Arsenal is Bukayo Saka. Mikel Arteta has admitted the injury “doesn't look good at all” after Saka went off with a quad problem in the 10th minute of Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich.
That is a significant blow for Arsenal before Saturday's home Premier League meeting with Everton at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are second in the table and still in a title defence, so any absence for their most important attacking player changes the feel of the match straight away.
Saka's injury changes Arsenal's attack
Saka has been one of Arsenal's most reliable performers across the last three seasons, and his absence creates an obvious selection problem for Arteta. The question now is not whether Arsenal have enough quality to compete. It is whether they can keep enough attacking rhythm without their main right-sided outlet.
Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 last weekend and have been strong at home, while Everton have struggled in recent meetings at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have won seven consecutive meetings, and Everton have failed to take anything from their two last visits, which underlines how difficult this fixture has been for them.
Everton's away resilience remains the counterpoint
Even so, Everton arrive with something Arsenal must respect. Their away record this season has been resilient despite poor overall recent form, and that can keep games tighter than expected. Last Saturday, they lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea, which is another reminder that their results have not been strong enough, even if their travelling performances have been more stubborn.
Arsenal will still be expected to control the game, especially with three Premier League home games in a row having produced seven goals and only three goals against. Those numbers speak to a side that can usually set the tone at the Emirates. But without Saka, the balance changes slightly, and Arteta must now decide how much risk to take in a match Arsenal should still believe they can win.
With Champions League pressure continuing in the background and the title race still alive, this is the kind of moment that tests squad depth as much as individual quality. Arsenal have done enough to stay in contention. The next question is whether they can keep that momentum going without their most trusted wide attacker.
