Arteta has secret Arsenal weapon to solve Saka injury concerns vs Bournemouth

"To find consistency you need to be available. If you miss periods, your peak form is going to be disrupted and then you’re going to have less chances to play. He had a niggle in pre-season, was out, and now is finding form. We need him. He has special qualities to play in wide areas - both positions - and especially with the situation we have now with the front players he is going to be really important."

It remains to be seen whether he will be given that chance to shine or if there will be some injury returns that will thwart him. However, it's clear that with the squad stretched at this moment in time, everyone will have to be counted upon to perform when called upon.Arsenal will have fond memories of March this year, where they were on a high chasing the Premier League title, winning games in every way possible. One of the more dramatic clashes came against AFC Bournemouth, where a late comeback sent the Emirates Stadium into chaotic celebrations.

The Cherries soared into a two-goal lead before Thomas Partey and Ben White pulled the game level, but it seemed as though dropped points were on the cards. Then up stepped Reiss Nelson, who made his way from the substitutes' bench and scored a screamer to win the game in the 97th minute.

While it seemed destined to be a deciding factor in the title race, it wouldn't be for the Gunners, who fell just short but picked themselves up again for this campaign. It could be Nelson that is called upon for some heroics yet again when the side face Bournemouth this weekend.

Mikel Arteta is in the midst of an injury crisis, where a host of stars are missing from action after a busy period of fixtures. Bukayo Saka is one of the latest injury concerns, joining the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Fabio Vieira in being doubts for the weekend.

To say Saka has been influential since his rise to stardom would be an understatement, playing almost every minute available to him since breaking through. With a potential absence on the cards, it could see the side have to shuffle their ranks yet again to accommodate.

That may given Nelson his chance for a run of first-team action from the start, who came in for plenty of praise from Arteta before the match. He told the media in his pre-match press conference: "Firstly, availability [has helped Nelson's consistency].