Arteta, however, added that Sterling, who was expected to be out for “weeks” after picking up a knee injury, will return earlier than expected
By Kehinde Okeowo
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Gunners winger, Bukayo Saka is likely to miss “more than two months” of action after a successful surgery on his hamstring.
The England star was helped off the pitch by a member of the Arsenal medical staff after he was forced off injured against Crystal Palace last weekend.
He was later seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after Arsenal’s 5-1 comfortable win in the encounter.
Speaking on the injury after Arsenal eased to another 1-0 win over Ipswich without Saka on Friday, Arteta said the striker will not be able to play again until March next year.
“He had a procedure,” he confirmed after the game. “Everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks.
“I said many weeks, so I think it will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer.
“It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, the mobility of that. Let’s see, it’s very difficult to say.”
The forecast will see Saka return to action for Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 8.
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Arteta was, however, able to provide “good news” on Chelsea loanee, Raheem Sterling, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury.
According to him, the 30-year-old was expected to be out for “weeks” with the issue, but it’s not as bad as it was first feared.
“Yes, we have to see this week how he evolves,” added the Spanish tactician. “We probably expected the knee injury to take longer than it has evolved in the last few days.
“Hopefully that’s good news because we need him.”
Asked how his players stepped up in the absence of Saka against Ipswich, Arteta said: “Very good. It will be different. We had moments in the second half. It is a unit that is new and will take time for players to understand fully.”
Arsenal’s next match comes against Brentford on New Year’s Day, as they look to build on consecutive Premier League victories to keep pace with Liverpool at the top of the table.
The North London side moved ahead of Chelsea after their win at the Emirates but are still six points behind Liverpool, who also have a game in hand on the chasing pack.
