Bukayo Saka Set to Miss ‘Many Weeks’ Due to Hamstring Injury, Confirms Arteta

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” following a hamstring injury sustained during Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed.

The 23-year-old England international was forced off the pitch after 70 minutes at Selhurst Park and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches. Saka, who has been in outstanding form this season, has contributed nine goals and 13 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions.

“It’s not looking good,” Arteta said. “He’s going to be out for many weeks. It is what it is. He’s injured, and we can’t change that. We’ll now focus on helping him during this recovery time.”

The Arsenal manager added that the club was already preparing for life without Saka, noting that they had experience in managing without key players, such as when captain Martin Ødegaard was sidelined earlier in the season.

When asked if Saka had “torn” something in his hamstring, Arteta replied affirmatively, saying: “Yes. Probably there are ways to prevent the injury. There are many factors at play, and we’re reviewing everything to see what we can do differently moving forward.”

Saka, who has been instrumental for both club and country, is reportedly “gutted” and “really emotional” about the setback, according to Arteta.

The Arsenal boss also acknowledged that the intense fixture schedule may have played a role in the injury. “It’s probably more the accumulation of matches,” Arteta explained, referencing how key players like Saka and Declan Rice have racked up over 130 appearances in the past three seasons.

In addition to Saka’s injury, Arteta confirmed that forward Raheem Sterling would also be out for several weeks due to a knee issue. “He’s going to be out for weeks,” Arteta said. “He will undergo further testing tomorrow.”

Arsenal’s next match is a home Premier League fixture against Ipswich at the Emirates Stadium on 27 December, with kick-off scheduled for 20:15 GMT.