Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will be ruled out for “many weeks” with a hamstring injury, according to manager Mikel Arteta.
Saka limped off in the 24th minute of Arsenal’s match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday and although the Gunners won 5-1, the victory was marred by a blow to the English winger, who left the stadium on crutches.
“Things are not looking good, he will be out for many weeks,” Arteta said at a press conference on Monday.
“I can’t be too specific because I don’t know, but it will be many weeks.”
When asked about the blow of losing Saka, Arteta replied: “It’s a huge blow, he’s a huge player for us.
“You have to see the impact he has on this team, but it will be a good exercise for all of us to overcome another challenge, because we have had a lot this season.”
Saka left against Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury
It is not the first hamstring injury Saka has suffered this season. He limped off while on England duty during the October international break and was out for a few weeks, missing Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
Asked if Saka’s season could be over, Arteta said: “No. In football, with injuries you can’t put 10 fingers out there, but I’m very optimistic that he will be back before the end of the season. season”.
Sterling also ruled out: will Arsenal perform in January?
Saka’s absence has been aggravated by an injury suffered by Raheem Sterling in training last Friday.
Arteta confirmed that the on-loan Chelsea winger will also be absent for a while.
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Saka was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches
“I think he will be out for weeks,” Arteta added. “He needs more tests. It’s his knee, we’ll have to see him in 24 hours, but unfortunately he’ll be out for a while.”
With both of his first-choice options at right wing injured, Arteta was asked if Arsenal would make a move in the January transfer window regarding that position.
“We’ll have to look internally at what we have and be creative,” he said. “We are having a very good year again, how can we shape the squad and adapt to the circumstances?
“And be different. We can’t pretend to be the same, we have to be different and find the best way to do it, be competitive and win a lot of games.
“My intention right now is within the team and what we have, to make the best of it. What is outside is not under my control.
“No one is right. You might be right: someone could come in and score 40 goals. What we have is what we have and I’m happy with what we have, they try to do everything we demand. We have enough quality in the team. How do we use it? That’s something else.
“The preparation is done, we are ready if something happens. We did not predict the situation with Bukayo and Raheem (out) at the same time. At the same time, we predicted that something else would happen on the defensive line, but the job is done.
“So it’s okay, if something has to happen, we will be open to it. But the main focus now is how we have the structure with potential in this team.”
Analysis: How will Arsenal react without Saka?
Sam Blitz from Sky Sports:
Saka’s injury is great news for Arsenal. The English winger’s injury history has been impeccable and Arteta regularly talks about how consistency and availability are his greatest attributes.
Since making his Premier League debut in 2019, Saka has never missed consecutive Premier League matches due to injury. In the last two and a half seasons, Saka has only missed four top-flight games.
Every time he takes a knock he recovers immediately, so for Arteta’s Arsenal to lose him until February is completely new territory.
It’s a tough blow considering how reliant Arsenal are on Saka’s work on the right flank. The Gunners attack on the right 46 percent of the time (it’s the highest percentage by a flank in the Premier League this season), partly because Saka and Martin Odegaard ventured down that side.
So how do Arsenal respond, especially with Sterling, the player brought in as Saka’s cover over the summer, also set to spend a period on the sidelines?
The next player in line is Gabriel Martinelli, who replaced Saka at Crystal Palace on the right wing and scored. The Brazilian also started on the right in Arsenal’s victory over Everton on the final day of last season, the only game Saka missed all of last season.
Gabriel Jesus is another option on the right wing, Arteta used the striker on the flank before, but Arsenal’s number 9 has just found some form again through the middle. Now is not the time to move Jesus again.
So what Arsenal need to work on now is a weakened right side and a left side that has failed to impress this season. It’s time for people like Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to step up.
Arsenal’s upcoming games
Ipswich (H) – Premier League – Friday December 27
Brentford (A) – Premier League – Wednesday, January 1
Brighton (A) – Premier League – Saturday, January 4, live sky sports
Newcastle (H) – Carabao Cup semi-final first leg – Tuesday, January 7, live sky sports
Manchester United (H) – FA Cup Third Round – Sunday, January 12
Tottenham (H) – Premier League – Wednesday, January 15
Aston Villa (H) – Premier League – Saturday January 18, live on Sky Sports
Dinamo Zagreb (H) – Premier League – Wednesday, January 22
Wolves (A) – Premier League – Saturday, January 25
Girona (A) – Premier League – Wednesday, January 29
Manchester City (H) – Premier League – Sunday, February 2, live sky sports
Newcastle (A) – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg – Wednesday, February 5, live sky sports
