Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is fearful he faces a significant lay-off after sustaining a hamstring problem during the 5-1 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday night. Saka is set to undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage.
The same area had previously caused him trouble while playing for England earlier this season. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his concern about the injury post-match and is expected to address the media on Monday to preview their next match.
However, according to the Mirror, there are growing concerns as Saka was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after being assisted off the pitch during the first half. Even a minor hamstring tear could result in a six-week absence, which would be a significant blow for Arsenal.
They face Ipswich on December 27, Brentford on New Year's Day, a Carabao Cup semi-final in January, an FA Cup third-round tie with Manchester United, and their remaining two Champions League fixtures in this round.
Arsenal's performance noticeably dipped when they were without captain Martin Odegaard, and Saka's contribution of five goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this season has been vital.
Arteta also revealed that Raheem Sterling had suffered an injury in training and would undergo further checks, although the hope is that it's minor and he won't face a significant lay-off. If that's the case, Sterling could potentially replace Saka if he's facing a spell on the sidelines.
Following the Palace win, Arteta lamented his side's injury issues. While he declined to provide an in-depth update on Saka's fitness, he admitted he was concerned.
"He felt something in his hamstring, he couldn't continue, and he'll have to be assessed. So, we're really worried about that one. He felt something in his hamstring, he couldn't continue, and he'll have to be assessed," Arteta said.
"So, we're really worried about that one. I'm not sure if it's exactly the same one, or the same leg. It's the third minor injury; I don't know how big this one is going to be but he already had two of them.
"And Raheem as well, we lost Raheem yesterday. We don't know for how long as well. So, to lose two players in 24 hours is not good. Unfortunately, with the amount of games that we are playing every three days with this schedule, it doesn't surprise me but the team will react to that.
"It's so difficult for any team to win it in any competition so anything can happen. We want to put our noses right in there and compete the way we are competing every single game, let's see what happens."