Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka will have tests to determine the extent of a hamstring injury picked up during Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The 23-year-old forward was forced off 24 minutes into the first half at Selhurst Park with Arsenal leading 2-1 through Gabriel Jesus’ brace.
Saka clutched the back of his right leg after attempting a cross from the byline and immediately signalled to the Arsenal dugout that he was unable to continue. Former Brighton & Hove Albion forward Leandro Trossard subsequently replaced him.
Asked for an update on Saka, who was later seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches, Arteta said: “He felt something in his hamstring. He could not continue. He will have to be assessed. We are pretty worried about that one.”
Second-half goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice clinched a comfortable victory in south London to move Arteta’s side to within three points of league leaders Liverpool, who play Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon. Arsenal remain third in the table, one point off Chelsea, who face Everton earlier on Sunday.
Saka had started in all but one of Arsenal’s 17 Premier League games so far this season, missing the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth in October through injury.
The England international is now a doubt for a crucial festive period that sees Arsenal play three games in nine days, starting against Ipswich on December 27 before matches against Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arsenal face Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup on January 12 and meet local rivals Tottenham in the second north London derby of the season three days later.
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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