Arteta reveals how he cheered up a 'grumpy' Eze before Bayern goal
Mikel Arteta has detailed how he worked to lift Eberechi Eze's mood before the forward came off the bench to score against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, describing the midfielder as 'grumpy' beforehand.
Speaking after Arsenal's Champions League clash with the German giants, Arteta explained that making Eze laugh was part of his approach to getting the best out of the squad, with the substitute making an instant impact once introduced from the bench.
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Arteta's man management on display
Arteta has regularly spoken about the importance of man management and keeping his squad in the right frame of mind, and this latest anecdote offers a glimpse into how he handles individual players in the build up to and during matches.
Eze's goal against Bayern Munich came after he was introduced as a substitute, and the timing of his intervention underlined the value of impact players coming off the bench in high stakes European fixtures. Arsenal have shown throughout the campaign that squad depth and the ability to change games late on can be decisive, particularly against elite opposition like Bayern.
Saka injury concern overshadows the win
The victory over Bayern Munich was tempered by fresh concern over Bukayo Saka, with reports suggesting Arsenal fear the winger could be out for as long as two months. Saka has been one of Arteta's most important players in recent seasons, and any lengthy spell on the sidelines would represent a significant blow to Arsenal's attacking options across multiple competitions.
No official timeline has been confirmed by the club at this stage, but the scale of the concern reported around Saka's situation suggests this is being treated seriously behind the scenes. Arsenal will be monitoring the situation closely as they continue to manage a packed fixture schedule across the Premier League and Champions League.
As reported by the BBC, further details on Saka's injury are expected to emerge in the coming days as Arsenal assess the extent of the issue.
Attention will now turn to how Arteta manages his attacking options in Saka's potential absence, with players like Eze having already shown they can provide a lift off the bench when called upon.
