Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka Set to Miss ‘Many Weeks’ with Hamstring Injury

Bukayo Saka is out for "many weeks" after suffering a hamstring injury. Can the Gunners keep their title charge going without their star man?

December 23, 2024
5:47 pm

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that star winger Bukayo Saka will be out for “many weeks” after picking up a hamstring injury during the Gunners’ 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. The 23-year-old England international, who’s been a key player for Arsenal this season with nine goals and 13 assists, had to leave the match on crutches.

Talking about Saka’s injury, Arteta said, “It’s not looking good. He’s going to be out for many weeks. We can’t change it now, but we’ll use this time to help him recover fully.”

Arteta mentioned that Saka’s injury is a tear and that the Gunners are looking into ways to avoid these kinds of setbacks in the future. He added, “There are a lot of factors. We’re reviewing everything to see what we can do differently.”

This injury has hit Saka hard, with Arteta describing him as “gutted” after realizing how long he’ll be out. The manager also pointed out the busy fixture schedule, noting that players like Saka and Declan Rice have played over 130 matches in just three seasons, which probably played a part in this issue.

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Coping Without Saka

Arsenal is used to handling the absence of key players, having already lost captain Martin Odegaard earlier this season. Gabriel Martinelli, who stepped into Saka’s spot on the right wing against Palace, is expected to keep that role for now.

Arteta hinted that the club will look for solutions internally, but the January transfer window might also offer chances to strengthen the squad. Arsenal has been proactive in past windows, signing Leandro Trossard last January to boost their attack.

Gabriel Jesus, who has scored five goals in the past week, will also take on more responsibility in Saka’s absence as Arsenal aims to stay competitive in the Premier League title race.

Saka’s Arsenal Contributions

Since debuting in 2018, Saka has become one of Arsenal’s most influential players, racking up 67 goals and 63 assists in 250 appearances. This season alone, he’s scored nine of Arsenal’s 56 goals (16.1%) and assisted 10 of their 34 Premier League strikes.

Despite Saka’s impact, Arsenal has shown resilience when he’s been out, winning 56.2% of matches he’s missed since his debut. However, Arteta knows the team will need to adjust their game without him, stating, “We are going to be different without him.”

The Gunners’ next match is against Ipswich on December 27, with Saka likely to return after some crucial Premier League fixtures in January.