Arsenal ended 2024 on a positive note, with a gritty 1-0 win over Ipswich Town in the Premier League. Key winger Bukayo Saka missed the game and there has now been an update on exactly how much longer he’ll be out of action.
Arsenal Deliver Bukayo Saka Injury Timeframe Update
What Did Mikel Arteta Say About Saka?
The English winger picked up a hamstring injury in the Gunners’ 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in their pre-Christmas fixture. The Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has now provided a timeline of how long the England international will be missing.
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Following his side’s win over Ipswich Town, Arteta stated: “He had a procedure. Everything went well, but unfortunatelyhe will be out for many, many weeks. I said many weeks, so I think it will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer. It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, the mobility of that. Let’s see, it’s very difficult to say.”
With Saka now unavailable until February or March, the Spanish coach remained cagey about dipping into the January transfer window to sign a new winger as Saka’s short-term replacement, as he claimed: “We will see. Hopefully we won’t have anymore injuries. We’ll have Raheem Sterling probably less time than we expected so that’s good news.”
Who Will Replace Saka In The Arsenal Lineup?
The Gunners opted to play Gabriel Martinelli in that right-wing position in the win over Ipswich Town, but the Brazilian winger failed to create anything noteworthy. Arteta has the option to play Gabriel Jesus in that position as the versatile forward can play there, while Raheem Sterling is another option when he gets back to full fitness.
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Saka will undoubtedly be a big miss in a position he has made his own. The 23-year-old had arguably been Arsenal’s best player this season before his injury, scoring nine goals and providing 13 assists in 24 matches. Saka, who was hailed as “exceptional” by Arteta earlier this season could miss as many as eight league matches, including key ones against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, if he’s out for two months.
