Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he expects Bukayo Saka to be out for "many weeks" with the hamstring injury he suffered in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
The 23-year-old sustained the problem in the first half of the London derby at Selhurst Park, immediately clutching the back of his thigh and dropping to the turf after delivering a cross.
Saka was seen hobbling away from the stadium on crutches after the victory, and while Arteta could not give a diagnosis straight away, the Gunners boss admitted that he was "pretty worried" about the winger.
Following reports over the weekend that Saka would be sidelined for several weeks, Arteta confirmed in Monday's pre-Ipswich Town press conference that he would indeed spend a while on the treatment table.
"It is not looking good. He is going to be out for many weeks," Arteta said, before adding that he expects the England international to be back before the end of the season and his injury could have "been a lot worse".
Which Arsenal games is Saka set to miss?
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka receives treatment for an injury on November 10, 2024© Imago
For all the niggles and knocks Saka appears to sustain week by week, the 23-year-old has seldom spent a long time in the infirmary, but it appeared inevitable that a player of his age playing 250 matches for a Premier League club would eventually suffer a serious problem.
Arteta confirmed that he had suffered a muscular tear, suggesting that his hamstring issue is at least Grade 2 severity; the consensus is that such an injury could take up to two months to heal.
Should the winger not return until the second half of February, there is a chance that he could miss as many as 14 matches in all competitions, including the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on January 15.
Saka will also be unavailable for the FA Cup third-round tie with Manchester United three days before that, and he should not be seen in either leg of the Gunners' EFL Cup semi-final battle with Newcastle United, the first of which will be played on January 7 and the second on February 5.
Arsenal's final two Champions League group games against Dinamo Zagreb (January 22) and Girona (January 29) will likely come too soon, as will the visit of Manchester City on February 2, and the home fixture with West Ham United on February 22 is surely the earliest comeback date that he can hope for.
How can Arsenal replace Saka?
Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus reacts on December 21, 2024© Imago
When Saka limped off the field on Saturday, Arteta introduced Leandro Trossard into the fray and moved Gabriel Martinelli over to the right wing, the Brazilian's less favoured side but one where he was impactful in the derby.
Martinelli should therefore have cemented himself as an option to fill in for Saka going forward, but his fellow Brazilian Gabriel Jesus must be Arteta's number one pick after his unforeseen revival.
Jesus started up front on Saturday, but only because Kai Havertz deputised for Declan Rice in midfield; the German should revert to the number nine position when Rice returns to the first XI.
With five goals in his last two games, a resurrected Jesus cannot be axed from the first XI over the festive period, and the 27-year-old's pace, dribbling and ability to cause chaos in and around the box makes him a more than capable deputy.
Arteta also name-checked the young Ethan Nwaneri when asked about possible replacements, but Raheem Sterling has joined Saka on the sidelines with a knee problem and will be missing for a number of weeks too.
> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up without Saka
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