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Arsenal welcome Ipswich Town to the Emirates Stadium after the brief Christmas break.
It's looking to be somewhat of a blue Christmas for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal with news that the ever-influential Bukayo Saka will miss a significant period of the season with a fresh injury.
It comes at a time when the Premier League title race is hotting up ahead of the New Year. The Gunners are already six points behind league leaders Liverpool, with the Merseyside club also holding a game in hand, but the Reds have dropped points against Fulham and Newcastle United this month.
Next up for Arsenal is the visit of Ipswich Town to the Emirates Stadium, in what is a first meeting between the two sides since 2011. Here's your team news.
Arsenal team news
Bukayo Saka is the centre of Arsenal team news talk with the England international picking up a serious hamstring injury in the 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. The Gunners starboy pulled up after a counter attack and had to be replaced by Leandro Trossard before half time.
Providing an update this week, Mikel Arteta confirmed that the injury appeared to be a muscle tear and said: "It's not looking good. He's going to be out for many weeks. It is what it is. He's injured, we cannot change it. We're going to use this time now to help him."
There's a further blow in those winger positions with Raheem Sterling also sidelined after a niggle picked up ahead of the Crystal Palace game. Arteta said: "He is going to be out for weeks. He needs some further testing tomorrow."
In defence, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain long term absentees. Oleksandr Zinchenko has had a minor muscle problem and was expected to be in the squad to face the Eagles, but was not. He could return against Ipswich Town.
Outs - Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu. Doubts - Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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Ipswich Town team news
Midfielder Sam Morsy has been an ever present for the Tractor Boys this season but will miss out against the Gunners having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season. It'll be only the second time he's not featured in a league match for Kieran McKenna's side this term.
Sam Morsy is suspended for Ipswich Town.Sam Morsy is suspended for Ipswich Town.
Sam Morsy is suspended for Ipswich Town. | Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Elsewhere, Axel Tuanzebe has a 'significant' hamstring injury and won't be involved. McKenna said: "We've lost Axel, hamstring, long-term. He's seeing specialists over the next 24 hours. Hopefully, it won't need surgery, but it's a significant injury. He's a very important player for us that we're going to miss a large chunk of the season."
Chiedozie Ogbene has an Achilles injury and isn't expected back until the New Year with forward George Hirst also out until mid January with a knee problem.
Outs - Sam Morsy, Axel Tuanzebe, Chiedozie Ogbene, George Hirst.
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