Thierry Henry says three Arsenal players need to step up without Saka

With Bukayo Saka a doubt for the upcoming Manchester City game, Thierry Henry has named three Arsenal players who may need to raise their game.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has called on Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz to step up for the Gunners.

In Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Lens, Bukayo Saka was forced off in the 34th minute. His withdrawal is a major concern for Arsenal, with a home match against Manchester City coming up in the Premier League on Sunday.

“People were talking about Rodri not playing at the weekend [in Man City’s 2-1 loss to Wolves],” Henry said on CBS Sports.

“Suddenly you don’t have, in my eyes, the main man at Arsenal playing against Man City at the weekend.

“It’s going to be the job of an Eddie Nketiah, a [Leandro] Trossard, or the job of a Kai Havertz to show that we’re not going to think about Bukayo if he’s not playing.”

Speaking after the Lens game, Mikel Arteta revealed that Saka felt discomfort after attempting a backheel. The manager added that he has no idea if the winger will be available to play on Sunday.

Should Saka miss the City showdown, it will end a run of 87 starts in a row for Arsenal in the Premier League.

“The only thing you can say about Bukayo is he’s been playing everything,” Henry acknowledged.

“At some point, you are going to hit the wall and it’s going to be too much.”

Saka has started in 10 of Arsenal’s 11 games across all competitions this season, supplying five goals and five assists. Last week’s 1-0 Carabao Cup away win against Brentford is the only game he has missed.