Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the England winger will be out for 'many weeks' with a hamstring injury
Bukayo Saka will miss Arsenal’s festive fixtures after suffering a hamstring injury during their 5-1 win against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The 23-year-old pulled up after attempting a cross into the box and immediately clutched the back of his thigh before signalling to the bench for treatment.
Saka was helped off the pitch by an Arsenal physio and went straight down the tunnel at Selhurst Park to receive further care.
Although Saka’s teammates coped fine without him in south London his impending absence represents a major blow to Mikel Arteta’s side as they attempt to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners are six points adrift of the league leaders who have a game in hand after the Merseyside derby was postponed earlier this month.
Here’s what we know about Saka’s injury.
What Mikel Arteta has said
“It’s not looking good, he’s going to be out for many weeks,” Arteta said on Monday ahead of Arsenal’s next league game against Ipswich on 27 December.
“I cannot be too specific because I do not know but it’s going to be many weeks.
“It’s a huge one, he’s a massive player for us.
“You have to see the impact he has on this team but it will be a good exercise for all of us to overcome another challenge because we’ve had a lot in the season.”
Arteta had previously admitted that he was “worried” about Saka’s condition.
“He felt something in his hamstring, he couldn’t continue and he’ll have to be assessed,” Arteta said immediately after the win against Palace.
“I’m pretty worried about that one.”
How good has Saka been this season?
Although Saka’s output has dipped recently he has made a superb start to the season with his goal and assist numbers up there with the best in Europe.
Only Mo Salah has set up more goals (with 11) than Saka (10) in Europe’s “big five” leagues this season, while he has also scored five times.
Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka applauds during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Arsenal at the London Stadium, in London on November 30, 2024. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Saka has 15 goal contributions in the Premier League this season (Photo: Getty)
Salah, Omar Marmoush (Frankfurt), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Robert Lewandowski and Raphina (both Barcelona) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea) are the only players across those divisions to have registered more goal contributions than Arsenal’s No 7.
Saka is also the second-highest rated player in the Premier League according to *Whoscored*‘s metrics, behind Liverpool’s Egyptian king.
Five FPL replacements
Fantasy Premier League managers will be scrambling to replace Saka before the Gameweek 18 deadline on Boxing Day.
Saka is the third-most selected player in the game in just under 40 per cent of squads.
He won’t remain that popular, though. Over 600,000 FPL bosses have already transferred him out since the weekend with his price tag dropping to £10.5m.
If you don’t yet own Salah or Palmer, they are the obvious replacements to bring in. Assuming most FPL managers have those two already, here are some other assets to consider.
One option is to replace Saka with one of his teammates considering Arsenal have a plum Gameweek 18 fixture at home to Ipswich.
Martin Odegaard (£8.3m) has gone four games without a goal or assist but should become Arsenal’s designated penalty taker in Saka’s absence.
Saka aside, the Norwegian has had more shots and created more chances per game than any of Arsenal’s other midfielders.
Liverpool also have a promising match-up against leaky Leicester at Anfield.
Luis Diaz (£7.4m) scored his first league goals since September during Liverpool’s demolition of Spurs and like Odegaard has posted the best underlying numbers aside from his more popular teammate.
Diaz is second to Salah for shots per-game among Liverpool’s midfielders and third for chances created behind Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski (£6.3m) is another player in stellar form. The Swede has scored in five consecutive games in all competitions including each of his last three in the Premier League.
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Dejan Kulusevski has scored in his last five games in all competitions (Photo: Reuters)
James Maddison has been a more popular buy ahead of the Gameweek 18 deadline, but Kulusevski is much more likely to play 90 minutes than his colleague. The Swede would be our pick over the Englishman.
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon (£7.2m) has been outshone by the much cheaper Jacob Murphy (£4.9m) in recent weeks but has posted better stats and is more nailed on to play 90 minutes, with Harvey Barnes competing for Murphy’s spot.
The England winger has had 13 shots (fifth among midfielders) and created 11 chances (second among midfielders) over the past four gameweeks. He has also provided a goal or assist in four of his last five outings.
Finally, Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr (£5.7m) is an interesting cut-price option.
The in-form Senegalese winger has scored four goals and registered two assists in his last six matches and has a good upcoming schedule with fixtures against Southampton (h) and Leicester (a) in his next four.