Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Monday confirmed forward Bukayo Saka will be out for “many weeks” due to a hamstring injury, Afrosport reports.
Saka was forced off during Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday and the 23-year-old was pictured leaving Selhurst Park on crutches.
“It’s not looking good,” said Arteta. “He’s going to be out for many weeks.
“It is what it is. He’s injured, we cannot change it. We’re going to use this time now to help him.”
Arteta also confirmed that the England international had suffered a hamstring tear. When asked, he said: “Yes. Probably there are ways to prevent the injury.
“There are a lot of factors. We are looking at everything and what we can do differently.”
The Spaniard, who added that Saka was “really emotional” due to the severity of his injury, suggested that the fixture accumulation played a part in the problem.
“It’s probably more the accumulation [of matches] as people like Declan [Rice] and Bukayo have played over 130 games in three seasons,” Arteta concluded.
Saka has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists across 24 games in all competitions this season.
Arsenal’s next Premier League match is a home fixture against Ipswich Town at the Emirates Stadium on 27 December.
