The games Bukayo Saka will miss as Arsenal learn extent of injury | Football

Bukayo Saka has been ruled out of this weekend’s huge Premier League clash between Arsenal and Liverpool after suffering a hamstring injury.

And while it is claimed his injury shouldn’t be as bad as first feared, the England winger could also miss the sport against Manchester City at the tip of September.

Saka scored the second goal of Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing of Leeds United last Saturday to assist the Gunners go top of the Premier League table.

However the mood on the Emirates was dampened as each Saka and captain Martin Odegaard hobbled off injured, the latter badly hurting his shoulder within the first-half.

While unable to present a correct update on the pair, Mikel Arteta said Saka’s injury was ‘significant’, with fans fearing the worst after the talisman spent 4 months on the sidelines last season as a result of a tear on his other hamstring.

Nonetheless, early scans indicate that neither player can be out for the long-term, with BBC Sport now reporting that Saka will miss as much as 4 weeks.

If so, the 23-year-old won’t return to motion until after the primary international break of the season.

That rules him out of Sunday’s trip to Anfield, which some have billed as an early title-decider, in addition to next month’s home game against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal’s first Champions League match of the season.

The injury can also be a blow for England, as Saka will miss the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

Should his recovery go well, the forward is likely to be slot in time to feature when Man City visit the Emirates on September 21, one other game that ought to prove pivotal within the title race.

But it surely seems more likely that he’ll make his return after that, with the Gunners set to play their first Carabao Cup clash of the campaign within the week commencing September 22.

The Gunners then travel to Newcastle United for a Premier League game on September 28.

As for Odegaard, the attacking midfielder has not yet been ruled out of the Liverpool clash, with an extra update expected soon.

Who will replace Bukayo Saka in Arsenal’s team?

The lack of Saka and Odegaard is a devastating blow for Arsenal but thankfully for Arteta he has loads of options to switch them.

Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard were brought on for the pair through the Leeds clash, while 15-year-old Max Dowman impressed on the right-flank when he got here on for his debut.

Gabriel Martinelli could also return to the front-line, while Arteta now has Eberechi Eze at his disposal after he accomplished his record £67.5million transfer from Crystal Palace.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes summer signing Noni Madueke is the person to switch Saka on the right-wing, after starting on the other flank against Leeds.

‘Madueke can play this side and for this reason you herald a Madueke,’ the previous striker told Premier League Productions.

‘I’m not saying he’s going to play like Saka, but fill that gap. He plays on that side, that’s where he likes to play… fill that gap until Saka comes back because he’s got a probability now.’

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