Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has confirmed that Bukayo Saka faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring during their emphatic 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
The injury occurred in the 24th minute, with Saka leaving the field and later exiting the stadium on crutches, casting a shadow over an otherwise dominant display by The Gunners.
Providing an update during a press conference on Monday, Arteta admitted the severity of the situation.
“It’s not looking good, he’s going to be out for many weeks,” he said. “I cannot be too specific because I do not know, but it’s going to be many weeks.”
The injury has clearly taken an emotional toll on the England international, as Arteta explained, “He was gutted. You can tell that he’s not been injured because he’s been really emotional and down, and we have to lift him up. It’s a part of his job, a big part of his job. He will be fine, but he needs a few days.”
When asked about the impact of Saka’s absence, Arteta acknowledged its significance, “It’s a huge one, he’s a massive 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’ve had a lot in the season.”
Saka’s hamstring troubles have been a recurring issue this season, as he previously missed several weeks after sustaining a similar injury while on international duty in October.
Despite the grim outlook, Arteta remains hopeful that Saka will return before the season concludes.
“No. In football, with injuries you cannot put 10 fingers there, but I am very optimistic that he will be well back before the end of the season,” he said.
In Saka’s absence, Gabriel Martinelli stepped up against Crystal Palace, moving to the right wing and contributing a goal and an assist, while Gabriel Jesus netted twice.
Arteta hinted at potential solutions to cope with the setback. “Gabi [Jesus] has played there [on the right], Ethan [Nwaneri] has played there, Leo [Trossard] has played there, Kai [Havertz] can play there, asking him to do different things,” he explained. “We will try and speak to them as well.”
Arteta is exploring various tactical adjustments. “I’m putting some ideas together; I haven’t got there yet. But I have a few and then I want to speak with them to understand how we’re going to generate that and take it in a positive way. That is going to mean we’re going to be different,” he added.
Arsenal’s injury woes were further compounded by news that Raheem Sterling, on loan from Chelsea, also sustained an injury during training.
“He’s going to be out for weeks, I believe,” Arteta confirmed. “He needs some further testing. It’s his knee, we will have to see in 24 hours, but unfortunately, he is going to be out for a while.”
The dual setbacks have prompted questions about Arsenal’s plans for the January transfer window.
Arteta acknowledged the need for adaptability but remained cautious, noting, “We’ll have to look internally at what we have and be creative,” he said. “Preparation is done; we are ready if something happens. We didn’t predict the situation with Bukayo and Raheem [being out] at the same time.”
Sky Sports analyst Sam Blitz highlighted the significance of Saka’s absence, noting his remarkable injury record and vital role in Arsenal’s attacking strategy.
With the January window on the horizon, Arsenal may be forced to consider reinforcements, especially with speculation surrounding Marcus Rashford’s availability offering a tempting prospect.
For now, the focus remains on adapting with the current squad and finding ways to mitigate the impact of their star winger’s absence.
