The Gunners had just 14 points after 14 games, their worst start to a Premier League season since 1974/75.
Arsenal was languishing in 15th position in the table at the time, just four points above the relegation zone.
Smith Rowe was thrown in at the desperate point against Chelsea on Boxing Day, and he led Arteta's side to a crucial 3-1 win.
Saka, meanwhile, had been regularly performing at a high level – well above that of his more senior colleagues – but the addition of his fellow Hale End academy graduate helped the team go on a much-needed five-game winning streak during the winter break.
Arsenal, on the other hand, has continued to display the inconsistency that has held them in mid-table for the majority of the season, and being without Saka, 19, and Smith Rowe, 20, due to injury in their humiliating 3-0 loss to Liverpool last weekend highlighted their flaws even more.
Arteta's side put in a sluggish and unambitious display, sitting back and allowing the struggling Premier League champions to fully dominate them in every way.
Saka and Smith Rowe's tireless energy to close down and make life tough for their opponents was lacking, and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubayemang was constantly withdrawing behind left-back Kierney while offering nothing on the offensive.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville characterized Arsenal's front six, bar Martin Odegaard, as a "joke" on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football broadcast, dissecting the events of the Emirates thrashing.
‘We don't know what goes on behind the scenes at Arsenal, but a couple of those players in the front part of the pitch against Liverpool looked like a little mafia,' he said.
‘It seemed to be a group of players who were uneasy, as though there was a rift between them and the manager.' The boss seemed to be fed up with them.
He had that glazed-over expression. 'It's instinct, but we've been around football long enough to recognize when a group of players is bored.'
Odegaard attempted to apply some pressure, but he was on his own. I'd go so far as to suggest the rest of them [the front six] were a joke.'
Arteta will be worried about the young duo's fitness ahead of Thursday's first leg of their critical Europa League quarter-final tie against Slavia Prague. Saka was ruled out of England's World Cup qualifiers due to a hamstring injury he sustained in the north London derby last month, and he wasn't risked against Liverpool.
Smith Rowe, meanwhile, was forced to return home from England Under-21 duty due to a 'tightness in his quad'.
According to Sky Sports stats comparing how the team has done with and without them in the side, their presence in Arsenal's biggest game of the season so far against Slavia Prague may be crucial.
The Gunners have won seven Premier League games with Saka and Smith Rowe in the starting XI, averaging 2.2 points per game and two goals per game.
However, without the pair starting together, Arteta's team has only won five of their 20 league games, averaging one point and 0.95 goals per game.
In terms of Arteta's solution, Jamie Carragher plainly stated that a slew of his underperforming senior players should be let go.
On Monday Night Football, the ex-Liverpool defender added, 'It's the players, get rid of them.' ‘Stick with Arteta and bring in the young players.' Is [Alexandre] Lacazette ever really the solution? No, it's not true.
Willian was a complete flop of a signing. ‘Nicolas Pepe isn't bad because of his age or price tag; he's just not good enough and never will be, so Arsenal can cut their losses there.'
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