Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has been sidelined for “many weeks” after suffering a hamstring tear, dealing a significant blow to the Gunners.
The injury occurred during Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Saka forced off in the 24th minute. The England international left the stadium on crutches, casting a shadow over the otherwise impressive win. Speaking during a press conference on Monday, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the severity of the injury.
“It’s not looking good. He’s going to be out for many weeks,” Arteta said. “I cannot be too specific because I don’t know the exact timeframe, but it’s clear he’ll be missing for quite a while.”
Arteta also spoke about the emotional toll the injury has taken on Saka. “He was gutted. You can tell he’s not used to being injured—he’s been very emotional and down. We have to lift him up. It’s part of his job, a big part of football, but he’ll be fine. He just needs a few days to process it.”
When asked about the impact of Saka’s absence, Arteta acknowledged the magnitude of the setback. “It’s a huge blow. He’s a massive player for us. You only have to look at the impact he has on the team. But it’s also an opportunity for the squad to step up and overcome another challenge, as we’ve had many this season.”
This isn’t the first time Saka has dealt with hamstring issues this year. In October, he suffered a similar injury while on England duty, which caused him to miss Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to Bournemouth.
Despite the seriousness of the current injury, Arteta expressed optimism about Saka’s recovery. When asked if the winger’s season could be over, Arteta dismissed the idea. “No. In football, you can’t make guarantees, but I’m very optimistic he’ll be back well before the end of the season,” he said.
