Bukayo Saka injury overshadows Arsenal's 5-1 triumph over Crystal Palace

The 22-year-old was forced off the pitch early and was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches, raising concerns about his availability for the club's packed holiday fixture schedule.

Arteta, speaking after the match, expressed his concern, stating that Saka's condition would need further assessment.

"He (Saka) felt something in his hamstring," said Arteta.

"He couldn't continue. He will have to be assessed, so I'm pretty worried about that one.

"It's very difficult to give a prognosis now. They have tested him inside but it's very difficult to say how bad it is."

He added: "Unfortunately with the amount of games that we are playing, every three days with this schedule, it doesn't surprise me, but the team will react to that."

Despite the setback, Arsenal delivered a dominant performance to secure three crucial points, narrowing the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to just three points.

The victory highlighted the team's attacking prowess, though the potential loss of Saka casts a shadow over their celebrations.

Arsenal now face a challenging period with three fixtures in just seven days.

They will visit Ipswich on Friday, followed by a New Year's Day clash against Brentford, before hosting Brighton three days later.

Saka's injury comes at a critical time, with the winger being a key component of Arteta's attacking setup. 

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