Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka faces weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s dominant 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
The 23-year-old was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches, casting a shadow over the Gunners’ second comprehensive victory against the Eagles in four days. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his concerns about Saka’s condition.
“It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks,” Arteta said. Despite the setback, he dismissed fears of Saka missing the rest of the season, adding, “I’m very optimistic he’ll be back before the end of the season.”
Saka, who has been pivotal for Arsenal’s attack with five Premier League goals and 10 assists this season, joins Raheem Sterling on the injury list after the forward sustained a knee injury, also sidelining him for several weeks.
Arteta acknowledged the challenges posed by Saka’s absence but remains determined to adapt. “We went through periods with Martin (Odegaard) and multiple defenders missing. We’ll take this with positive energy,” he said, adding that the coaching team is already strategizing ways to manage the squad’s composition.
Arsenal, currently third in the Premier League table, trail leaders Liverpool by six points, having played one game more. The Gunners host relegation-threatened Ipswich on Friday, hoping to close the gap in the title race despite Saka’s absence.
