Every word Mikel Arteta said on Bukayo Saka return, Arsenal injuries and Gabriel replacement

Mikel Arteta faced the media following his side’s 2-1 win over Fulham. Bukayo Saka’s goal on his return proved vital on a night where Mikel Merino would score once again making it five in eight playing up top.

The win, however, was marred by what looked a significant hamstring injury for Gabriel Magalhaes, while Jurrien Timber was also unable to finish the game after a collision with Raul Jimenez in the first half took its toll on the full-back.

Arteta was of course asked about the pair’s statuses. It is a worry with now less than a week until Real Madrid come to town that he will have to have some unorthodox players in different roles.

Here is every word from the press conference as Arteta faced the media:

A fairytale comeback for Bukayo, a worrying night for Gabriel, a night of mixed emotions for you?

Yes, I think a beautiful moment to see how much our people love, respect and admire Bukayo. He's not a surprise to any of us and I think the best example is his reaction. Immediately after scoring a goal, what does he do? He goes and says thank you for all the hard work that all the sports science guys, physios and everybody involved in the recovery have done for him to be able to be in the condition that he is. I think he lifted the stadium, the energy and great to have him back.

How was he feeling afterwards?

Yeah, he was very positive. I think the first one is always the one, how am I going to feel? Because now I have different opposition in front of me, different demands and the pressure and he dealt with it really well. And as you said, the downside to that is Gabi and Jurrien. We don't know how they're going to be. We'll be assessing them tomorrow and understand better how we are with those two.

What were your early impressions, Mikel, on Gabi? It looked like a hamstring, is that...?

With both of them, because they are two players in this team that never want to come off, are those two probably. Gabi felt something in his hamstring. We don't know how big that is and with Jurrien as well. He was already struggling very early in the game. He managed to continue, at some point he couldn't. So that's the downside to it.

So Jurrien was a hamstring as well?

No, Jurrien was a knee.

I mean, they've been so important for you defensively, haven't they? Clearly, we could ask you about a week to Real Madrid. I mean, it feels...

The good thing is that it's been like this the whole season. You see Martinelli today, you say we missed him three months. You see Bukayo four months, Kai four months, Gabi Jesus, almost the whole season. How we have managed to be where we are with all those injuries, Ben White hasn't participated at all this season. It's what it is. We want it so much that we're going to give it a real go and we are very excited for the next week.

You just touched on it there. You've had the issues at the attacking end of the pitch and now having the selection issues in defence. How much of a worry is that with the game Everton so close? And then Real...

You can imagine with those four players in the defensive line in one week. So Calafiori, Ben White, Jurrien and Gabriel Magalhaes. We have still another four that are so bloody willing that they will do their job.

You mentioned right at the start that Bukayo went to all the fitness guys and on the camera we could see him hugging Sam Wilson. I was just wondering if you could talk about how important Sam and people like Sam as well are in those kind of weeks coming up to the players, coming back to fitness.

Listen, as a manager, I think, and being part of the staff, we all love this kind of recognition and gestures because it goes beyond the professional side of it and there is a connection there that is so necessary and to be able to appreciate as well the amount of work and stress as well and responsibility that they have to go through because they will be like this. I hope everything goes well and the work that was done is going to work. So I was very pleased with that.

Because I take it, there's probably a lot of times where it's just those two alone at the training ground together when maybe he's getting back on the grass and kind of getting back closer to fitness. Yeah, and that's why the emotional part is so important because you can do all the physical work and all the conditioning but you need to leave the players. Four months is a long time and there are moments that we travel and we go to play Champions League and you are there for two days, you are on your own in the training ground and it's not easy.

Obviously a night, I think that could get swallowed up in Saka and in the injuries but Mikel Merino scored, I think it's his fifth goal in eight games as playing at centre-forward. That must really please you, knowing that he's playing out of position.

He does, yeah. But he's got that capacity to score goals, to send the danger and to move in the right moments into the right spaces. Today was a different goal but then you ask him to play as an eight and he does it perfectly and understands the timing, the position, the run, so good. It's a joy to have players like this. I thought Ethan as well, he had some really good moments. Martinelli I think was superb as well, you see how much we missed him, that threat, that attacking purpose that he has every time he's on the ball. So, some good performances.

Mikel, you mentioned obviously you've had to deal with injuries all season, have you ever known a season like this?

No, unfortunately. No, especially because as well there have been some big, big players in very, very critical positions and affecting the whole line. We have a lot of good news as well. Look at Myles, look at Ethan, look at all the players doing all this stuff. So, that's it.

Just how hard has it been to plan and strategize when you lose players like this?

Yeah, you’re scratching your head. I know in the next few games the same. But at the same time, it's been a great learning experience, you know, for us and all the coaches and staff to manage that situation. At the end, the players are going to react to how we react to it. You start to feel sorry for yourself and say, “Ah, it's impossible how we're going to do this.” It will be impossible, but these boys, they don't give you the reason to act like that and look where we are, and we are in April.

This could now be a really massive week for Jakub Kiwior. He hasn't played much football, but just how confident are you that you can throw him in against the likes of Everton or Real Madrid?

The good thing with Jakub is that he's been very reliable. Every time we need him he's always there, he's available. He does his job, we ask him to play as a left-centre-back, as a right-centre-back, as a left-full-back. So, he's ready. He has a smile on his face, you know, he's sad for Gabi, but he really wanted to play as well, and he will be fine.

Do you think you'll be up for the challenge of coming up against some of the best strikers in the world?

Well, if you ask them how much they want to play the next two games and the Real Madrid game, believe me, everybody wants to be on that pitch.