December 23rd 2024.
In a major blow to Arsenal's title hopes, Mikel Arteta has revealed that star player Bukayo Saka has sustained a serious hamstring injury. The winger was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after limping off during their 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace last Saturday. After the match, Arteta confirmed that Saka had suffered a worrying injury but was unable to give a specific timeline for his return.
However, in a press conference on Monday, Arteta shared a worrying update on Saka's injury. "It's not looking good. He's going to be out for many weeks," the manager said. It was evident that Saka was devastated by the news, as he hasn't experienced an injury of this magnitude before and was visibly emotional and down. Arteta added that while Saka will be fine, he will need a few days to process and deal with the situation.
According to reports from The Times, Saka could be out for four to six weeks, with a possible return date in early February. This means he will miss several crucial Premier League matches, including the highly-anticipated clashes against Tottenham and Manchester City. He will also be absent for the FA Cup third-round match against Manchester United, the final two group stage games of the Champions League, and at least the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle.
To make matters worse for Arsenal, Raheem Sterling, who was a potential replacement for Saka, is also injured after hurting his knee last week. This leaves Arteta with limited options to fill in for Saka's absence.
Looking at the upcoming fixtures, Saka could potentially miss out on the following games: Ipswich on December 27, Brentford on January 1, Brighton on January 4, Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on January 7, Manchester United in the FA Cup on January 12, Tottenham on January 15, Aston Villa on January 18, Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on January 22, Wolves on January 25, Girona in the Champions League on January 29, Manchester City on February 2, and Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on February 15. All of these games are crucial for Arsenal's title bid.
Arteta also provided an update on Sterling's injury, saying, "He's gonna be out for weeks. He needs further testing tomorrow to understand the extent of his injury. It's his knee." With both Saka and Sterling out, Arteta will need to come up with a plan to fill in for their absence.
Despite the setback, Arteta remains positive and is already considering his options. "I'm putting some ideas together. I haven't got there yet, but I have a few," he said. He also mentioned that he will be speaking with other players to assess their availability and willingness to step up, and is looking at the situation with a positive mindset. He believes that this will give the team an opportunity to showcase their adaptability and depth, similar to when they had to deal with multiple defenders missing earlier in the season.
Some potential options to fill in for Saka's position include Martin Odegaard, who has played there before, Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, Leo Trossard, and Kai Havertz. Arteta will be discussing with them to see how they feel about playing in Saka's role.
It is a blow for Arsenal to lose their talisman for several weeks, but Arteta is determined to make the most out of the situation and continue their strong form in the league. With the team's depth and adaptability, they remain confident in their title aspirations despite this setback.
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