Arsenal's Bukayo Saka is facing a spell on the sidelines that could extend until March after picking up a hamstring injury in the team's last match before Christmas.
The England international was forced off the pitch during the first half of the victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has since confirmed that the 23 year old winger will be out for "many weeks," although he stopped short of providing a specific return date.
The potential absence of Saka until February would see him miss a crucial run of 10 matches, including the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle and a pivotal North London Derby versus Tottenham.
Arsenal also have their final Champions League group stage games to contend with as they aim to keep pace with Premier League leaders Liverpool. While some hope Saka might make it back for the early February fixture against Manchester City, the nature of hamstring injuries means his comeback could be delayed.
Reports from The Mail suggest that Arsenal are intensifying their assessment of Saka's condition amid concerns that he may have suffered a tear. Having already been sidelined for a month earlier in the season due to an injury while on international duty, there's growing apprehension that this latest setback could see him out of action for an even more extended period, reports the Mirror.
After Saka's exit against Palace, Arsenal adapted by shifting Gabriel Martinelli to the right, with Mikel Arteta considering various tactics for future games. A possible alternative, Raheem Sterling, is sidelined: "He needs some further testing tomorrow to understand the extent of the injury," Arteta explained.
"It's his knee and we have to wait another 24 hours, but unfortunately he's going to be out for a while."
Arsenal's resilience will be tested as they strive to maintain their unbeaten streak across seven league matches, including four victories and three draws, despite sitting third behind Chelsea and Liverpool. Ipswich Town is next in line for the Gunners this Friday, followed by trips to Brentford and Brighton.
Arteta shared his strategy for coping without Saka: "I'm putting some ideas together. I haven't got there yet but I have a few," he commented on Monday. "I want to speak with them [the players] as well and take it in a positive way. It means we're going to be different. We went through the period with Martin [Odegaard] and the period with five, six defenders missing. We're looking at it with positive energy."
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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