Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara has criticized Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for his role in Bukayo Saka’s serious injury, calling it a predictable outcome of overuse.
Saka, a key player for Arsenal, was forced off during their Premier League win over Crystal Palace on December 21. He missed the subsequent victory against Ipswich Town and underwent surgery, which could keep him sidelined until March.
Sharing a hospital photo on Saturday, the 23-year-old winger vowed to return stronger from the setback. Saka, who has been instrumental in Arsenal’s title challenges over the past three seasons, had already contributed five goals and 10 assists in 16 league games before tearing his hamstring.
O’Hara expressed his frustrations, saying both Arteta and the packed football calendar share responsibility. Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, he said,
“This injury was bound to happen. Arteta has overplayed him, even in games where he could have rested, like the early rounds of the Carabao Cup.”
He added, “Arsenal is heavily reliant on Saka, but overworking players like him was always going to lead to burnout.
The fixture list is relentless, and top players like Saka don’t get any rest. They’re not machines—they’re human, and injuries like this are inevitable.”
O’Hara further criticized football’s growing demands, saying, “The protection of players is abysmal. People forget these athletes need proper rest and recovery, but instead, they’re pushed to perform at the highest level every week.”
Arteta acknowledged the seriousness of Saka’s injury, saying, “It looks like more than two months. It depends on how the scar tissue heals and the mobility he regains in the early weeks. It’s hard to predict.”
When asked about signing a replacement in January, Arteta emphasized teamwork: “We have to rely on the team as a unit. We’ve been competitive without depending on one player, and we’ll adapt our system to keep performing.”
Despite the setback, Arsenal remains second in the Premier League. They resume their campaign on New Year’s Day with a match against Brentford, as they aim to maintain momentum without their star player.