Arsenal suffered a significant harm blow on Monday after Mikel Arteta confirmed winger Bukayo Saka might be sidelined for “many weeks” with a torn hamstring.
Sources have advised ESPN that the 23-year-old was advised the information after seeing a specialist, having left the stadium on crutches following the Gunners’ 5-1 win at Crystal Palace final weekend.
“It’s not trying good,” Areta stated. “He’s going to be out for a lot of weeks. I can’t be too particular as a result of I do not know, however will probably be many weeks.
“It’s an enormous [blow]. He’s clearly an enormous participant for us, you simply need to see the affect that he has on the workforce. It’s going to be a extremely good train for us to think about methods to beat one other problem as a result of we have had so much over the season.
“I’m placing some concepts collectively. I have not bought there but. But I’ve a couple of. Then I wish to communicate with the gamers as properly to know how we’re going to generate that and take it in a optimistic approach. Because that’s going to imply we’re going to be completely different.
“He was gutted. You can inform that he has not been injured as a result of he was actually, actually emotional and actually down. And we have to carry him up. It is an enormous a part of his job. And he might be high quality however he’s going to wish a couple of days. He will instantly realise that he’s so vital in that dressing room.
“His power stage, his physique language, and the way he communicates with the remainder of the workforce needs to be actually good as a result of it’s the solely approach in the intervening time he may also help, so he higher do this properly.”
Although Arteta was eager to play up the inner alternate options, information that Raheem Sterling can also be set for a spell on the sidelines following a knee harm is an additional blow given the Chelsea loanee would have been an apparent substitute.
“He’s going be out for weeks I imagine,” Arteta stated. “He wants additional testing tomorrow to know the extent of his harm. It’s his knee. We have to attend and see one other 24 hours. Unfortunately he’ll be out for some time.”
It is the third hamstring harm Saka has suffered this season.
The England worldwide is a pivotal participant for Arteta, beginning 16 of their 17 Premier League matches — solely lacking October’s 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth via harm.
He has amassed 9 targets and 13 assists in 24 video games throughout all competitions and when requested whether or not Arsenal are prepared to enter the January switch market to exchange Saka if wanted, Arteta replied: “The preparation is finished and we’re prepared if one thing occurs. Obviously we did not predict a state of affairs with Bukayo and Raheem out on the identical time.
“We predicted extra it might be one thing else, for instance if one thing occurred within the line of defense. But the job is finished and, okay, if one thing has to occur, we might be open. But the principle focus is now, how will we extract nonetheless lots of potential that there’s on this squad.”
Arsenal host Ipswich on the Emirates Stadium on Friday.
