Bukayo Saka's Hamstring Injury: How Long Will Arsenal's Star Winger Be Sidelined?
Arsenal fans had plenty to celebrate during Saturday night's festivities, though their commanding 5-0 triumph against Leeds United came with some concerning developments.
The most worrying aspect saw skipper Martin Ødegaard and star winger Bukayo Saka both withdrawn due to injuries. Saka's problem occurred after netting the Gunners' second goal, effectively sealing the fate of a Leeds team that found themselves completely outmatched by the championship contenders.
Saka's significant hamstring problem contributed to Arsenal's domestic decline during the previous campaign, making it a priority for the club to better prepare for potential absences of the winger during their summer preparations.
Therefore, while reports of Saka's month-long unavailability aren't welcome news, Mikel Arteta's squad should cope during his recovery period. Nevertheless, the England star may miss several crucial fixtures.
Fixtures Bukayo Saka May Miss for Arsenal
Sunday brought encouraging updates suggesting Saka's hamstring problem wasn't as severe as initially anticipated, raising hopes among fans before the upcoming visit to the reigning champions' ground.
Nevertheless, subsequent reports confirmed the Arsenal winger will remain sidelined for a minimum of three weeks, ensuring Liverpool will face a Saka-absent Gunners squad at Anfield. Arteta will probably deploy summer signing Noni Madueke on the right wing, while Eberechi Eze is also expected to make his Arsenal bow. There's speculation about the English player potentially featuring on the left wing.
Luckily for Arsenal, the opening international window of 2025-26 begins in early September, reducing the impact. However, he'll be unavailable for England's upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra and Serbia.
Three weeks will have elapsed when Nottingham Forest visit the Emirates on September 13, though Arteta may choose to rest Saka for the subsequent fixture. A week later, Arsenal welcome Manchester City in another early-season showdown that could influence the Premier League title race.
Despite this being the same hamstring that avoided surgery last December, Arsenal will undoubtedly exercise caution before rushing Saka's return. Between the Forest and City encounters, the Gunners begin their Champions League journey, with their opening league phase adversaries to be determined in Thursday's draw.