By MICHAEL PAVITT and JAMES COHEN
Published: 15:33 EST, 21 December 2024 | Updated: 15:44 EST, 21 December 2024
Bukayo Saka was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitting to being 'pretty worried' after the star was forced off in the first half against Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury.
Saka lasted just 25 minutes of Arsenal's clash with the Eagles before needing to be taken off with an injury.
After a frantic start to the match which saw the Gunners race into a 2-1 lead, the winger fell to the ground and clutched his right hamstring before being substituted.
The England international - who has provided five goals and 10 assists in the league - was swiftly replaced by Belgian teammate Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal were able to win despite Saka's absence, with Arteta's side earning a 5-1 victory to move three points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Arteta admitted post match that the Gunners are fearful over the extent of Saka's injury.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka was forced off with an injury during his side's trip to Selhurst Park
Saka lasted just 25 minutes of the clash against Crystal Palace before being withdrawn
'He felt something in his hamstring,' Arteta said.
'He could not continue, he had to be assessed. We are pretty worried.'
Arsenal fans will be hoping it's not a recurrence of the hamstring injury back in October.
During the international break that month, the winger was forced to withdraw from the England squad after sustaining the injury in their clash against Greece.
That hamstring issue kept the 23-year-old sidelined for 39 days - a period which included their disappointing 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth.
With clashes against Man United and rivals Tottenham in the new year, Mikel Arteta will be hopeful that it's not the same issue for the Arsenal wide-man.
Prior to the injury to Saka, the Gunners made a bright start to the trip to Selhurst Park - with Gabriel Jesus scoring after just six minutes on the night.
The Brazilian arrived at the back-post to poke home from close range after defender Gabriel Magalhaes got a small nick on the cross.
Saka was swiftly replaced by Belgian teammate Leandro Trossard after just 25 minutes
In October, Saka was sidelined for just over a month with a hamstring injury on England duty
Palace, however, hit back shortly after through winger Ismaila Sarr, who drove forward and curled a scintillating effort past David Raya.
But Arsenal fired back swiftly and were ahead once again in the 14th minute as Jesus was once again on hand to provide a neat finish from a corner.
Arteta's side then gave themselves some breathing room in the match as Kai Havertz reacted quickest to a Jesus header and poked home from inside the six-yard box.
Second half goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice sealed a 5-1 victory.
Saka's potential injury comes at a time when Arteta was slowly getting the core of his Arsenal side back to availability.
In a major boost for the Gunners, Rice and Riccardo Calafiori both came on in the second half after spells of injury.
Rice missed the Gunners' 3-2 Carabao Cup victory over Palace on Wednesday due to a minor injury.
Arteta admitted to being 'pretty worried' as he confirmed Saka suffered a hamstring problem
While Calafiori has been sidelined since the start of December.
The Italian's absence has seen 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly start in the left-back slot for Arsenal's previous league match — a 0-0 draw against Everton.
Full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko was also in contention to play in the match however was left out of the squad.