In a blow to Arsenal’s title push, star winger Bukayo Saka has been ruled out for “many weeks” due to a hamstring strain, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Monday.
The 21-year-old England international limped off in the 24th minute of Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, leaving the stadium on crutches. Arteta said the injury “is not looking good” and that Saka will be sidelined for an extended period.
“It’s a huge one, he’s a massive player for us,” Arteta said of the loss of Saka, who has been a pivotal figure in Arsenal’s strong start to the season. The Gunners currently sit top of the Premier League table.
Saka has already missed time this season due to a previous hamstring issue while on international duty with England in October. Arteta, however, expressed optimism that the winger will return before the end of the campaign.
The injury to Saka is compounded by the news that on-loan Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling will also be out for “weeks” with a knee problem, further depleting Arsenal’s options on the right wing.
With both first-choice wide players sidelined, Arteta acknowledged the need to be “creative” in finding solutions within the squad, potentially involving the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard. The Spaniard insisted that the club will not panic and look to make hasty signings in the January transfer window.
“My intention right now is within the team and what we have, get the best out of that,” Arteta said. “We have enough quality in the squad. How we use it? That’s something else.”
Arsenal face a busy schedule in the coming weeks, including Premier League matches against Ipswich, Brentford, Brighton, and FA Cup tie against Manchester United, as well as a Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Newcastle United.
Arteta will be hoping his team can navigate this challenging period without the influential Saka, who has been a driving force behind the Gunners’ impressive campaign so far.
