Bukayo Saka will be out for “many weeks” with a hamstring injury the Arsenal forward suffered against Crystal Palace on Saturday, manager Mikel Arteta has said.
Saka, who has nine goals and 12 assists in 21 Premier League and Champions League appearances this season, was replaced in the 24th minute of his side’s 5-1 win at Selhurst Park.
The England international missed two matches in October with a hamstring problem but has started all of Arsenal’s other games in the top flight and Europe.
“It could’ve been much worse” 🗣️
Mikel Arteta reveals Bukayo Saka will be out for many weeks. pic.twitter.com/GMTOQv4VbO
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 23, 2024
Saka injury: How long is he out for?
“It’s not looking good,” said Arteta. “He’s going to be out for many weeks. [It’s] another part of the development of a player. At some stage at this level, you’re going to get injured.
“It could have been much worse. It could have been something else that can take you out for a year. It’s how you react to that, how you overcome that situation.
“It’s a great learning process for him as well. It is what it is. He’s injured – we cannot change it. We’re going to use this time to help him.”
When he was asked whether he was concerned that Saka may not return in 2024/25, Arteta replied: “No. I’m very optimistic he’ll be back before the end of the season.”
Most goal contributions by Premier League players across all competitions this season:
32 – Mohamed Salah
22 – Bukayo Saka
19 – Erling HaalandIn a league of his own 📈 pic.twitter.com/DNbRFcc56a
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 22, 2024
Saka stats: How will Arsenal replace him?
The 23-year-old has the third-most goals and assists combined in the Premier League, behind Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, with 17, and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who has 26.
Arsenal academy product Saka has the eighth-highest total in that respect of any player in the five major leagues in Europe, putting him one ahead of the likes of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.
“I’m putting some ideas together,” Arteta said when he was asked how he will deal with Saka’s absence. “I haven’t got there yet, but I have a few.
“Then I want to speak with [the players] too, to understand how to generate that and use it in a positive way, because it means we’re going to be different.
“We went through the period with Martin [Odegaard absent, for 10 games in the Premier League and Europe this season] and the period with five, six defenders missing. We’re taking it with positive energy.”
“If there was a perfect time for him to get injured, it would be now”
Les Ferdinand says a break could benefit Bukayo Saka 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/bxA1HrudsN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2024
Premier League table
Arsenal are third in the table and six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
The Gunners are two points above fourth-placed Nottingham Forest and host second-bottom Ipswich Town on Friday (8.15pm GMT).
