Expert provides early Bukayo Saka injury time frame as Mikel Arteta offers update

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Arsenal’s demolition of Leeds United was overshadowed by the injury of Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners returned to the Emirates in the Premier League to give fans a five-star showing. 

Arsenal beat Leeds 5-0 with Jurrien Timber, Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka getting on the scoresheet. 

Following the highs of scoring his first goal of the season, Arsenal fans later became worried about Saka, as the winger was forced to withdraw in the 53rd minute, clutching his hamstring. 

• READ MORE: Forget Gyokeres and Dowman, Jamie Redknapp highlighted Arsenal’s real ‘difference’ in Leeds United victory

What an injury expert has said about Bukayo Saka’s hamstring

Saka looked dejected as he hobbled off the pitch, having only recently fully recovered from surgery on his hamstring.

Fear set in immediately inside the Emirates as the Hale End graduate left the pitch.

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Saka and Martin Odegaard, who was also injured, will undergo scans on Sunday to explore the extent of the damage. 

Taking to X, injury expert ‘Physio Scout’ analysed the mechanism of Saka’s injury, coming up with three possible recovery times. 

From looking at how the injury was sustained, the expert stated that ‘the mechanism suggested more of a strain than simple tightness’.

The possible recovery timeframes are relative to the grade of the strain, which, to Physio Scout’s knowledge, are the following.

• Grade 1: 2-4 weeks

• Grade 2: 4-6 weeks

• Grade 3: 8-12 weeks++

From the expert’s point of view, Saka’s outcome is ‘more likely’ to be a grade one or two strain, but all will become clearer once the scan results come to light.

The most important part of the update is that Saka did not hurt the same hamstring he did in December 2024, so there is some ‘reassurance’. 

How Mikel Arteta reacted to Saka’s injury

After the game, Arteta echoed the relief that comes with the fact that it wasn’t the same leg Saka required surgery on.

“Bukayo, while he was carrying the ball, wrestling with the defender, he felt something in his hamstring,” the Arsenal manager said in his press conference.

“Let’s see, I think it’s the other one, it’s not the same one as the previous injury.”

All eyes will be on what the prognosis of Saka’s hamstring injury is, with the trip to Anfield firmly in mind.