Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka to be sidelined for 'several weeks'

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka, aged 23, is expected to be sidelined for "many weeks" due to a hamstring injury sustained during Saturday's 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace, as stated by manager Mikel Arteta.

Saka will be unavailable for the upcoming league match against Ipswich Town at the Emirates, along with several subsequent fixtures. However, Arteta remains optimistic that the young forward will regain fitness before the end of the season.

This season, Saka has contributed significantly to Arsenal's campaign, netting five goals and providing ten assists, which has helped the team secure third place in the league standings. He was substituted in the 22nd minute of the match against Crystal Palace and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches.

Earlier in October and November, the England international missed three Nations League matches, as well as Arsenal's league loss to Bournemouth and their Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, due to an injury affecting the same leg.

Arteta commented on the situation, stating, "I'm not certain if it is precisely the same type of injury." He added, "It is in the same leg. This marks his third minor injury; I cannot predict the severity of this one. He has already experienced two prior injuries."

"It does not appear promising. He will be out for several weeks... Fortunately, it could have been much worse, potentially resulting in a year-long absence."

When questioned about his strategy to compensate for Saka's absence, Arteta replied, "I am formulating some ideas, but I have not finalized anything yet."

"Gabriel (Jesus) and Ethan (Nwaneri) have both played in that position, while (Leandro) Trossard can also fill that role depending on how the unit operates. Kai (Havertz) could also be an option. We will explore various possibilities and assess how they adapt to the changes."

Additionally, Arteta confirmed that winger Raheem Sterling has sustained a knee injury and will also be out for an extended period.

It is clear that we did not foresee the current circumstances involving Bukayo and Raheem. Should any developments arise during the January transfer window, we will remain receptive to them. However, our primary focus at this moment is to harness the potential present within this squad.

The Spaniard further noted that Saka's injury resulted from a combination of factors, particularly the volume of matches he has participated in.

"Bukayo and Declan (Rice) have each played over 130 matches in the past two seasons. What can we expect in the third and fourth seasons? If this trend persists, it may become unmanageable," Arteta remarked.

"We must discover methods to physically enhance their capabilities, enabling them to withstand any challenges."