By Martin Graham | 28th Dec 2024
Arsenal’s star winger Bukayo Saka is set to miss a significant portion of the season after undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury. Manager Mikel Arteta revealed that the 23-year-old is likely to be sidelined for more than two months as he recovers.
Saka suffers injury blow
Saka sustained the injury during the first half of Arsenal’s commanding 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on December 21. The winger, who was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches, has been a pivotal figure for the Gunners this season, contributing nine goals and 13 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions.
Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Ipswich, Arteta provided an update on Saka’s recovery timeline. “He had a procedure, and it went well,” Arteta said. “Unfortunately, he will be out for many weeks. I believe it’s going to be more than two months, but we’ll have to monitor his progress as the scar tissue heals.”
Sterling recovery offers positive news
While Saka’s absence is a significant setback, Arsenal received encouraging news regarding Raheem Sterling’s recovery from a knee injury. The 30-year-old, on loan from Chelsea, was initially expected to miss several weeks. However, Arteta revealed that Sterling’s condition has improved quicker than anticipated.
“We need to see how he progresses this week,” Arteta said. “The injury wasn’t as severe as we initially thought. Hopefully, he can return sooner rather than later, which is fantastic because we need all the depth we can get.”
Arsenal’s upcoming challenges
Arsenal currently sits second in the Premier League, trailing leaders Liverpool by six points. The Gunners’ next test will be a New Year’s Day clash away at Brentford. With Saka unavailable and Sterling’s fitness still under evaluation, Arteta faces the challenge of adapting his squad to maintain momentum in the title race.
The coming weeks will be crucial for Arsenal as they look to keep pace at the top of the table while navigating key absences in their lineup.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
MFF
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