Football

Arsenal dealt injury blow as Saka ruled out for three months

Arsenal midfielder Bukayo Saka. (Photo: (Photo: Nigel Keene / ProSportsImage /DPPI via AFP)

By Dennis Tarus | Monday, April 1, 2024

Saka had a rare low-key performance at the Etihad and limped off after 78 minutes with the club physio after he appeared to be seen nursing his hamstring.

Arsenal have been dealt a massive injury blow after their star player Bukayo Saka was ruled out for three months after suffering a recurring hamstring injury as the race for the English Premier League title reaches its penultimate stage.

The news has virtually ruled him out for the rest of the season as the EPL reaches its business end of the season and will come as a major disappointment for Arsenal fans who seek to end their 20-year wait for the EPL title.

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The Arsenal midfielder will also miss key ties in Europe including the Uefa Champions League Quarter-final two-legged tie against German Champions Bayern Munich.

Saka has been key to the Gunner's recent resurgence that has seen them unbeaten in 2024 and is the club's top goal scorer across all competitions with 16 goals and 13 assists to his name.

Saka played 78 minutes in Sunday's goalless draw against Man City in a nervy encounter at the Etihad Stadium that saw the title race swing back to Liverpool's favour after the Reds won their earlier encounter 2-1 against Brighton at Anfield.

Liverpool now leads the table with 67 points, two ahead of Arsenal and three points ahead of reigning Champions Man City with only nine games left to the end of the season.

Low-key performance

Saka had a rare low-key performance at the Etihad and limped off after 78 minutes with the club physio after he appeared to be seen nursing his hamstring.

The Gunners star had been named in the starting XI despite being a doubt ahead of the game.

Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (L) fights for the ball with Porto's Brazilian striker #13 Galeno (C) during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match at the Arsenal Stadium in north London, on March 12, 2024. (Photo: Adrian DENNIS/AFP)

Initially, it seemed like a minor scare with Arsenal manager Mikael Arteta saying that the England midfielder was only suffering from "fatigue".

"As you know he’s been out for a few weeks now with a little problem," Arteta said after the game.

"He was feeling that fatigue. Right now he hasn’t trained. He trained just one day before the match. He made a big contribution, but 90 minutes was a lot today."

However, the club's fears were later confirmed after initial scans revealed the Arsenal midfielder suffered from a recurring hamstring injury.

Saka is set to have another scan on Friday to reveal if he will have to undergo surgery as he now faces a race against time to feature for the England national team at the Euros in June.

He is also seen as a key player for the England national team and has been a consistent feature in manager Gareth Southgate's team through previous international competitions and fixtures.

He was forced to withdraw from the England squad earlier this month as a precaution.

Did you believe the above article? It was part of the April Fool's Day prank.