This season, Arsenal has had trouble getting Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, their two most creative influences, on the field simultaneously.
Only 14 of the Gunners' 31 games across all competitions have seen the talismanic pair play together, and Arsenal has only lost once during that time. But it's unlikely that they will be mingling at the Emirates Stadium very soon.
Saka has been off for a long time after Odegaard sustained a long-term injury early this season; Arsenal has been without the latter since he went into treatment just before Christmas.
What's the latest on Saka's injury? Arsenal needs its key player back as soon as possible.
What kind of injury does Saka Bukayo have?
Given the harsh punishment he frequently gets from opposition defenders, Saka has shown himself to be incredibly resilient during recent campaigns. This is undoubtedly the most severe and protracted injury he has ever sustained in his career.
When Saka was hit by the deck and then staggered off during the 5-1 victory against Crystal Palace on December 21, Arsenal was right to dread the worst. Due to a hamstring problem, the winger was pulled after just twenty-four minutes, and scans were promptly conducted to assess the extent of the problem.
Due to injury, which Arsenal games will Bukayo Saka miss?
Since hurting his hamstring, Arsenal's number seven has already missed five games and, if he doesn't return until March, he will probably miss ten more. He would miss several crucial matches in three distinct competitions throughout that time.
He will miss the Premier League's second north London derby of the year, as well as matches against Nottingham Forest, high-flying Aston Villa, and defending champion Manchester City. With Liverpool in a dominant position, the title race may be almost finished by the time he returns.
As Arsenal wraps up their Champions League league phase campaign, Saka will also be watching from the sidelines. As the Gunners aim for automatic qualification to the round of 16, games against Dinamo Zagreb and Girona will pass him by. Additionally, the winger will not play in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle United.
What is the estimated time of Bukayo Saka's injury recovery?
Shortly after the trip to Selhurst Park, Saka had surgery to repair a hamstring problem, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that the forward would need at least two months to recuperate.
In December of last year, the Spaniard disclosed: "He had surgery and everything went fine, but he will be absent for a long time. More than two months will pass.
I am unsure of how much longer. The mobility of it will rely on how the scar tissue heals throughout the first week or two. It's quite hard to say."
Saka is still a long way from making a recovery, despite recent sightings at the Arsenal training facility. The 23-year-old is unlikely to return to the field until late February, with a March return date currently appearing the most likely.
Arteta recently commented on Saka's recuperation, saying: "He's been about a lot. Having him is fantastic. He always wears a smile on his face. Since he has never had an extended period of injury, he is going through an unfamiliar time.
"We have discussed the things we can do together and the things he can do to use the time in the right way to make him a better person, to make sure that he spends the time adequately with the opportunity that he has, so that when he comes back he is in the right place."
Who might take Bukayo Saka's position in the Arsenal squad?
None of the four senior forwards for Arsenal right now—Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Raheem Sterling, who is now on loan—are particularly standout. It could be necessary to spend some money this winter.
Arsenal has been woefully lacking in imagination in their recent games, which has caused them to falter at the start of the new year. The Gunners may need to address their striking problems during the January transfer window because Gabriel Jesus also suffered a serious injury during last weekend's FA Cup loss to Manchester United that could keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Bryan Mbeumo, a winger for Brentford who has been linked to Arsenal, is a Cameroon international who has scored 13 goals in the Premier League this season and would be the ideal, if pricey, replacement for Saka.
Although Nico Williams has long been respected, the Athletic Club winger prefers to play on the left side. In the summer, the Gunners lost the opportunity to sign Pedro Neto, a long-term desire, as Chelsea quickly closed a deal.
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