Mikel Arteta confirms how long Bukayo Saka will be out for with hamstring injury

Arsenal ended 2024 on a high note by beating Ipswich Town 1-0 on Friday night, but Mikel Arteta delivered a mood-killing update on Bukayo Saka's hamstring injury post-match.

The Gunners won without their leading goal contributor at the Emirates as a Kai Havertz goal proved to be the difference between the two sides. Arsenal were hardly dazzling, but they controlled the entirety of the contest and barely gave their visitors an inch.

We're all expecting a slog to kick off the new year in the absence of Saka, with Arteta suggesting ahead of the Ipswich game that Arsenal would be without their star winger for "many weeks" due to a hamstring tear.

However, the boss confirmed the extent of Saka's injury on Friday night and it is not good news for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta confirms how long Bukayo Saka will be out for with hamstring injury

Arteta confirmed that Saka underwent surgery to resolve his hamstring injury and expects the England international to spend more than two months on the sidelines.

"I said many weeks, so I think it'll be more than two months," he told reporters (via Sky Sports). "I don't know exactly how much longer. I think it will depend on how that scar tissue starts to heal. The first week or so, mobility of that. Let's see, it's very difficult to say.

"Bukayo is going to be out for many weeks. I think the replacement of B [Saka] is going to be the team," the boss added.

The reputable Physio Scout on X was even more pessimistic, saying that Saka could be out for as long as four months.

While we were expecting Saka to be sidelined for a lengthy period of time, Friday night's news is pretty close to worst-case scenario. The winger's poised to miss a huge chunk of the second-half of the season, and although Arsenal remain in the title discussion, it's hard to envisage them rattling off the run they require to hunt down Liverpool at the summit without their leading man in attack.

The gap between the Reds is six points after the 1-0 win over Ipswich, but Arne Slot's imperious outfit have played a game less. The margin could be nine points by the time Arsenal kick off at Brentford on New Year's Day.

While panic buying shouldn't be encouraged, it's clear that the Gunners require attacking reinforcements in January. Two players must be brought in to bolster Arteta's frontline if Arsenal are to sustain their challenges on multiple fronts. Anything but and the club are setting themselves up for disappointment and a risk of regression.

READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS HERE!