Arsenal receive worst possible news on Bukayo Saka injury as Mikel Arteta reveals how long Gunners star will be sidelined

The 23-year-old suffered the injury setback during the Gunners' emphatic 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on December 21. He exited the match in the first half and was spotted leaving the stadium on crutches. Saka's absence is a significant blow to Arsenal, as the England international has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions, making him a cornerstone of the team’s attacking prowess.

Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Ipswich Town on Friday night, Arteta provided clarity on Saka’s condition.

"He had a procedure," said Arteta. "Everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks. I said many weeks, so I think it will be more than two months. I don't know exactly how much longer. It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, the mobility of that. Let's see, it's very difficult to say."

Despite Saka’s long-term absence, Arsenal received some positive news regarding Raheem Sterling. The Chelsea loanee, who had been expected to miss significant time due to a knee injury, could return to action sooner than anticipated.

"Yes, we have to see this week how he evolves," added Arteta. "We probably expected the knee injury to take longer than it has evolved in the last few days. Hopefully, that's good news because we need him."

Arsenal’s current injury concerns come at a pivotal stage of the season, with the team striving to close a six-point gap behind league leaders Liverpool. The victory against Ipswich demonstrated the Gunners’ resilience, but the road ahead remains challenging. Their next fixture is a tough New Year’s Day clash against Brentford, where Arteta’s side will aim to maintain momentum in the title race despite Saka’s absence.