Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” after
suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, manager
Mikel Arteta said Monday.
Asked at a press conference about the 23-year-old
England international’s condition, Arteta said: “It is not looking good. He
will be out for many weeks.”
Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches on
Saturday, souring what had been a comprehensive second win over the Eagles in
four days.
Arteta said after the match: “He felt something in his
hamstring. He couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed, so I’m pretty
worried about that one.”
He also revealed on Monday that Raheem Sterling had
injured his knee and would be out for many weeks.
Arteta was asked if there was a fear Saka would not
return before the end of the season.
“No (there’s no fear),” he said. “I’m very optimistic
he’ll be back before the end of the season.”
The Spaniard said it was part of the “development of a
player”.
“It could have been much worse. It could have been
something else that can take you out for a year,” he said.
“It’s how you react to that, how you overcome that
situation and it’s a great learning process for him as well.
“It is what it is. He’s injured, we cannot change it.
We’re going to use this time now to help him.”
Saka is crucial cog in Arsenal’s attack, scoring five
Premier League goals and providing 10 assists this season, and his absence will
be keenly felt.
Arteta said he was “putting some ideas together” about
how to cope in the winger’s absence.
“We went through the period with Martin (Odegaard) and
the period with five, six defenders missing,” he said. “We’re taking it with
positive energy.”
Arsenal, who have finished as Premier League
runners-up over the past two seasons, host relegation-threatened Ipswich on
Friday.
The Gunners are third in the Premier League table, six
points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.
-AFP
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