Bukayo Saka will be out for “several weeks” with the hamstring injury the Arsenal forward picked up against Crystal Palace on Saturday, manager Mikel Arteta said.

Saka, who has nine goals and 12 assists in 21 Premier League and Champions League appearances this season, was substituted in the 24th minute of his side’s 5-1 win at Selhurst Park.

The England international missed two matches in October with a hamstring problem but has started all of Arsenal’s other games in the top flight and in Europe.

“It could be worse” 🗣️

Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka will be out for several weeks. pic.twitter.com/GMTOQv4VbO

– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 23, 2024

Saka Injury: How Long Is He Out?

“It doesn’t feel good,” Arteta said. “He will be out for several weeks. (It’s) another part of player development. At some point in this level, you’re going to get injured.

“It could be worse. It could be something else that could take you out for a year. It’s how you react to it, how you overcome that situation.

“It’s a great learning process for him as well. It is what it is. He is wounded – we cannot change him. We will use this time to help him.”

When asked if he was worried that Saka would not be back in 2024/25, Arteta replied: “No. I am very hopeful that he will be back before the end of the season.

Most goal contributions by Premier League players in all competitions this season:

32 – Mohammad Salah
22 – Bukayo Saka
19 – Erling Haaland

In a league of its own 📈 pic.twitter.com/DNbRFcc56a

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 22, 2024

Saka stats: How will Arsenal replace him?

The 23-year-old has the third most goals and assists in the Premier League behind Chelsea’s Cole Palmer with 17 and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who has 26 goals.

Arsenal academy product Saka has the eighth highest total of any player in Europe’s big five leagues, putting him one ahead of the likes of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.

“I’m putting some ideas together,” Arteta said when asked how he would deal with Saka’s absence. “I haven’t gotten there yet, but I have a few.

“Then I also want to talk to (the players), to understand how to generate that and use it in a positive way, because that means we will be different.

“We went through a period with Martin (Odegard absent, for 10 games this season in the Premier League and Europe) and a period with five, six defenders missing. We are taking it with positive energy.

“If there was ever a right time for him to get injured, it would be now.”

Les Ferdinand says taking a break could benefit Bukayo Saka 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/bxA1HrudsN

– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2024

Premier League Table

Arsenal are third in the table and six points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

The Gunners are two points above fourth-placed Nottingham Forest and host second-bottom Ipswich Town on Friday (8.15pm GMT).