Arsenal make unusual Bukayo Saka decision as injury concerns come to light

Arsenal were so concerned over the extent of the injury Bukayo Saka suffered last week that they pushed ahead with a scan on the night of their win over Crystal Palace.

Saka lasted less than 25 minutes at Selhurst Park before going down with a hamstring injury. He was unable to continue after receiving treatment and was even seen leaving the stadium on crutches after the match, which Arsenal won 5-1.

The injury scare was sufficient enough for Mikel Arteta to admit the club were "really worried" post-match - and it's now emerged that Arsenal thought Saka may have even detached his hamstring from the bone.

They also chose to scan the injury on the night rather than the next day, which is the usual medical protocol for such injuries, according to a new report from Mail Sport.

Saka could now be absent for around two months, though the report notes that the England star would have required surgery had he actually torn his hamstring from the bone. That would have ruled him out for around six months.

While Arsenal will be relieved that is not the case, they will still be without one of their most influential players during a crucial period of the season.

"It's not looking good, he's going to be out for many weeks," Arteta said earlier this week when he was asked to deliver an update on Saka's injury.

When the Spaniard was then asked how he was planning to deal with Saka's absence, he added: "I’m putting some ideas together. I haven’t got there yet but I have a few.

Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"I want to speak with them as well and take it in a positive way. It means we’re going to be different. We went through the period with Martin [Odegaard] and the period with five, six defenders missing. We’re looking at it with positive energy."

Arsenal have been plagued by injuries to several key players during the opening half of the campaign. The Gunners also lost Raheem Sterling - who was signed to add depth to their forward line late in summer transfer window - to injury the day before Saka's injury.

"We lost Raheem yesterday and we don’t know for how long," Arteta revealed after the win over Palace. "To lose two players in 24 hours is not good. Unfortunately with the amount of games that we are playing and with this schedule it doesn’t surprise me."

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