Mikel Arteta has delivered a festive blow to Arsenal fans with confirmation over Bukayo Saka's hamstring injury setback.
Saka was forced off after just 24 minutes in Arsenal’s 5-1 Premier League weekend win over Crystal Palace with Arteta confirming the England international would be assessed.
Arteta has since updated that Saka will be out for ‘many weeks’ with Raheem Sterling also sidelined for a similar period with a knee issue.
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Whilst Areta has not given a firm update on when Saka will return to his squad, reports from The Times suggest the winger could be sidelined for four to six weeks.
That could mean an absence of seven games for the 23-year-old with Arteta forced into a rethink.
Ahead of their clash with Ipswich Town on December 27, Arteta offered an update on Saka, and his potential plans for the January transfer window as a result of his No.7’s absence.
“It’s not looking good [for Saka] he’s going to be out for many weeks. [For January] My intention right now is to get the best of what we have,” he said.
“I’m putting some ideas together [to replace Saka]. I haven’t got there yet, but I have a few. I want to speak with him and try to take it in a positive way.
“We’re going to be different. We went through a period with Martin [Odegaard] out and a period with five, six defenders missing. We’re looking at it with positive energy.
Gabriel Martinelli switched to Saka’s right-sided berth after his withdrawal at Selhurst Park, with substitute Leandro Trossard on the left, and Arteta hinted that could be replicated again.
“He [Martinelli] played there before and against Everton in the last match of last season. He did really well. He’s a good option, we’re on it.
“Gabi has played there, Ethan [Nwaneri] has played there, Leo can play there, Kai [Havertz] too. We’ll talk to them and understand how they feel about it.
“Bukayo is gutted. You can tell he hasn’t been injured, he was really emotional, and really down. He will be fine, but I think he’s going to need a few days.”
Arteta’s Plan A appears to be Martinelli and Trossard, alongside Gabriel Jesus, with no immediate desire make a bold move in the January window.
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