Arsenal’s Saka out for ‘many weeks’ with hamstring injury

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka was forced off in the 22nd minute of their match against Crystal Palace and later left the stadium on crutches. (AP pic)

LONDON: Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka will be out for “many weeks” after suffering a hamstring injury during Saturday’s 5-1 Premier League win at Crystal Palace, manager Mikel Arteta said.

Saka will miss Friday’s league game against Ipswich Town at the Emirates, along with several others, but Arteta is hopeful the 23-year-old will return to fitness before the season concludes.

Saka has recorded five goals and 10 assists in the league this season, helping Arsenal to third place in the standings. He was forced off in the 22nd minute of their match against Crystal Palace and later left the stadium on crutches.

In October and November, the England international missed three Nations League games as well as Arsenal’s league defeat at Bournemouth, and their Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk due to injury to the same leg.

“I’m not sure if it’s exactly the same (type),” Arteta told reporters on Monday.

“It is in the same leg. He had the third minor injury – I don’t know how big this is going to be. But he already had two.”

“It’s not looking good. He’s going to be out for many weeks… It could have been much worse. It could have been something else that can take you out for a year.”

When asked how he plans to replace Saka, Arteta said: “I’m putting some ideas together but I haven’t got there yet.”

“Gabriel (Jesus) and Ethan (Nwaneri) have played there, (Leandro) Trossard can play there in relation to how that unit moves. Kai (Havertz) could play there. We will see, try different things and ask how they feel about it.”

Arteta also confirmed winger Raheem Sterling has injured his knee and is also going to be out for many weeks.

“Obviously we didn’t predict this situation with Bukayo and Raheem… If something has to happen (in the January transfer window) we will be open. But the main focus is now how to unlock the potential that is in this squad.”

The Spaniard added that Saka’s injury was caused by a build-up of many reasons, including the number of games he has played.

“Bukayo and Declan (Rice), they’ve played over 130 games in two seasons so what’s going to happen in the third one, the fourth one? If it continues the same way, it’s probably unsustainable,” Arteta said.

“And we have to find ways to physically turn them into monsters. That they can cope with anything.”

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