Mikel Arteta admits worried about Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury: ‘We’re pretty worried’

Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka will undergo testing to determine the extent of a hamstring injury he sustained in Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The 23-year-old striker was sent off 24 minutes into the first half at Selhurst Park as Arsenal led 2-1 thanks to a brace from Gabriel Jesus.

Saka clutched the back of his right leg after attempting a cross from the byline, immediately signaling to the Arsenal dugout that he could not continue. Former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Leandro Trossard then replaced him.

Asked for an update on Saka, who was later seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches, Arteta said: “He felt something in his thigh muscles. He couldn’t continue. He needs to be judged. We’re very worried about that.”

Second-half goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice secured a comfortable victory in south London and moved Arteta’s side to within three points of leaders Liverpool, who play Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon. Arsenal remain third in the table, a point behind Chelsea, who face Everton earlier on Sunday.

Saka has started all but one of Arsenal’s 17 Premier League games this season. He has missed a total of four games for club and country this season while being absent from the sidelines on two occasions, both times due to a hamstring injury.

The England international is now in doubt about the crucial bank holiday period, which will see Arsenal play three games in nine days, starting against Ipswich on December 27 before facing Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Arsenal face Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup on January 12 and face local rivals Tottenham in the second north London derby of the season three days later.

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