%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was forced off after just 24 minutes against Crystal Palace, with Mikel Arteta offering a worrying update on our star.
We just can't have nice things, can we? After Gabriel Jesus's return to the type of goal-scorer Arsenal has been begging for, now Bukayo Saka's injury throws an almighty spanner in the works.
Given the condensed fixed list, the Gunners simply can't afford to have Saka miss ample time. When we factor in the need to reel in league leaders Liverpool, getting Saka back as soon as possible becomes especially important.
While the positive was Arsenal was still able to click through the gears and record a convincing 5-1 win over Palace, any shine that comes from the win, is taken off.
Having been a beacon of consistency for the Gunners this season, now it appears that Bukayo might be spending the festive period on the sidelines in what is proper nightmare fuel for Arsenal fans.
Given the number of injuries the Gunners have had to deal with this season, we wonder if someone is putting pins into an Arsenal voodoo doll. And when we listen to Mikel Arteta post-game, it doesn't sound like an injury in which Saka was taken off the field as a precaution.
"He felt something in his hamstring, he couldn’t continue, and he’ll have to be assessed," Arteta said via arsenal.com. "So, we’re really worried about that one."
Plus, when we factor in that Saka was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches, it tells us the injury might be significant, and that could spell disaster to any hope that Arsenal had of the league title.
One dare we say it, positive note was that Saka's injury allowed Gabriel Martinelli to switch flanks, and the Brazilian looked to be back to his menacing best.
He ran at defenders, regularly put early balls into the box, and somewhat fortuitously got himself on the score sheet, Martinelli might now be tasked with leading the Arsenal attack in Saka's absence.
It was only one game, but if Martinelli can produce in the manner he did against Palace over the next few weeks, the Gunners will still be in business in the league, but there's no replacing Saka.
Gabriel Jesus has returned to form, so too, to an extent Martinelli, but those football gods have a sick sense of humor.
Just as things were looking up, the injury bug has sunk its teeth into Saka and now the winger looks to be sidelined when the Gunners needed him the most.