Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Bukayo Saka after he was taken off in the first half of the Premier League win against Crystal Palace due to injury. After just 24 minutes at Selhurst Park, Leandro Trossard replaced Saka after the Gunners talisman was captured on the floor holding his hamstring.
Gabriel Jesus had given Arsenal the lead early on and though Ismaila Sarr swiftly equalised, the Brazil international scored again to make it 2-1 after just 12 minutes. With the visitors pushing for another, Saka made a burst down the right with his eventual cross evading three Arsenal players.
Cameras then captured Saka on the turf and appearing in some discomfort before gingerly walking off the pitch alongside physios. Even though he was taken off, Arsenal were able to score another three goals with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice all on target.
Though the Gunners were able to get the job done, concern over Saka is understandably high especially during such an intense period of fixtures. After the game, Arteta gave an update on his condition after he was seen leaving Selhurst Park using crutches to help him walk. "He felt something in his hamstring," he said in a press conference. "He will have to be assessed. Pretty worried about that."
"It’s difficult to guess now. They have tested him but difficult to say how bad it is." It later came to light that Saka departed Selhurst Park on crutches.
In terms of possible replacements, Jesus is capable of playing on the right and did so in the second half. Initially it was Martinelli that was deployed on Saka's favoured flank before he switch to the left with Trossard through the middle.
When Saka has missed out, Raheem Sterling has often come in for him but he is also dealing with an injury picked up in training, as revealed by Arteta. "Raheem, unfortunately we lost him yesterday [Friday]," he told Sky Sports before the game. "He felt something in training, he had to come off. And we need to explore that with more tests."
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