Mikel Arteta admitted he’s ‘fairly anxious’ about Bukayo Saka’s hamstring harm which noticed the winger go away Selhurst Park on crutches on Saturday evening.
The most important blow for Arsenal comes amid a packed schedule forward — and, worryingly for the Gunners, is the third hamstring harm of the season sustained by the winger.
The 23-year-old broken his proper hamstring on worldwide obligation for England in opposition to Greece on October 10, which noticed him miss Arsenal’s Premier League match in opposition to Bournemouth 9 days later.
He then sustained the identical harm once more — it’s unclear to which leg — in opposition to Chelsea on November 10. Saka missed two UEFA Nations League video games for England, earlier than returning in opposition to Nottingham Forest on November 23.
And now, Saka left the pitch in opposition to Crystal Palace after 24 minutes clutching his proper hamstring in obvious ache.
Arteta mentioned: ‘He (Saka) felt one thing in his hamstring. He couldn’t proceed. He should be assessed. Fairly anxious about that one.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka was compelled off with an harm throughout his facet’s journey to Selhurst Park
Saka lasted simply 25 minutes of the conflict in opposition to Crystal Palace earlier than being withdrawn
‘It’s troublesome to do this (evaluation) now. They’ve examined him inside however very troublesome to say how unhealthy it’s.’
The England worldwide – who has offered 5 objectives and 10 assists within the league – was changed by Belgian team-mate Leandro Trossard at Selhurst Park.
Arsenal have been in a position to win regardless of Saka’s harm, with Arteta’s facet incomes a 5-1 victory to maneuver three factors behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal followers will probably be hoping it isn’t a recurrence of the hamstring harm again in October.
Through the worldwide break that month, the winger was compelled to withdraw from the England squad after sustaining the harm of their conflict in opposition to Greece.
That hamstring problem saved the 23-year-old sidelined for 39 days – a interval which included their disappointing 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth.
With clashes in opposition to Man United and rivals Tottenham within the new yr, Mikel Arteta will probably be hopeful that it isn’t the identical problem for the Arsenal wide-man.
Previous to the harm to Saka, the Gunners made a brilliant begin to the journey to Selhurst Park – with Gabriel Jesus scoring after simply six minutes on the evening.
The Brazilian arrived on the back-post to poke dwelling from shut vary after defender Gabriel Magalhaes bought a small nick on the cross.
Saka was swiftly changed by Belgian teammate Leandro Trossard after simply 25 minutes
In October, Saka was sidelined for simply over a month with a hamstring harm on England obligation
Palace, nonetheless, hit again shortly after by way of winger Ismaila Sarr, who drove ahead and curled a scintillating effort previous David Raya.
However Arsenal fired again swiftly and have been forward as soon as once more within the 14th minute as Jesus was as soon as once more available to supply a neat end from a nook.
Arteta’s facet then gave themselves some respiratory room within the match as Kai Havertz reacted quickest to a Jesus header and poked dwelling from contained in the six-yard field.
Second half objectives from Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice sealed a 5-1 victory.
Saka’s potential harm comes at a time when Arteta was slowly getting the core of his Arsenal facet again to availability.
In a significant enhance for the Gunners, Rice and Riccardo Calafiori each got here on within the second half after spells of harm.
Rice missed the Gunners’ 3-2 Carabao Cup victory over Palace on Wednesday attributable to a minor harm.
Arteta admitted to being ‘fairly anxious’ as he confirmed Saka suffered a hamstring downside
Whereas Calafiori has been sidelined for the reason that begin of December.
The Italian’s absence has seen 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly begin within the left-back slot for Arsenal’s earlier league match — a 0-0 draw in opposition to Everton.
Full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko was additionally in competition to play within the match nonetheless was not noted of the squad.
