Arsenal's Bukayo Saka likely to be out for several weeks with hamstring injury

The forward is anticipated to be out for many matches for the Gunners.

Arsenal are set to be without their ace for several weeks as Bukayo Saka suffered an injury on his right hamstring during the Gunners’ 5-1 win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Saka had to hobble off the pitch as he appeared uncomfortable after suffering the injury and now his timeline for return will be a blow for the Gunners.

Arsenal are once again competing for the title this season after Mikel Arteta confirmed that his side are in the title race but with the absence of their star player it will be challenging for them.

Speaking to the media after the match, Arteta did not sound too optimistic. He said, “We are pretty worried about Saka’s injury. He grabbed his hamstring and couldn’t continue. We don’t know the extent of the injury yet, but we’re pretty worried. Let’s hope it’s not too much.”

The Spanish manager also said, “He felt something. It is too early to assess him. It was a precaution with him right now.”

How many matches is Bukayo Saka expected to miss?

The North Londoners have one match left before the end of 2024. Saka is expected to miss matches against Ipswich Town on Friday, along with high-profile fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in the Premier League.

He could additionally miss two Champions League group-stage games, a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle United, and an FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United.

However, it also depends on how quickly the forward recovers as the scans will confirm the severity of the injury and if he has moderate hamstring strains, he may be sidelined until early February.

But Saka has the ability to recover quickly from a hamstring injury as he takes merely three to four weeks to get back to fitness, but this season the forward has picked up hamstring injuries more often.

Moreover, Mikel Arteta has failed to manage the workload of Saka which has seen him appear in every game and fail to get much-needed rest when necessary. This has resulted in the player suffering injuries often this term.

It was understood that Arteta would sign Saka’s back-up but he opted to bring Raheem Sterling who has so far struggled to put in a convincing performance ever since leaving Manchester City. It’s unlikely he will be seen as Saka’s replacement despite the fact that he can play anywhere in the attacking line.

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