The young English forward was forced to leave the field during the initial half of Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to RC Lens on Tuesday night.
Saka has emerged as Arteta’s most dependable player over the last three seasons, even setting a new club record for consecutive Premier League appearances just last month.
Despite showcasing exceptional durability, many devoted Arsenal fans have harbored concerns about the youthful star eventually succumbing to the strain of a demanding workload.
Their worst apprehensions materialized when Saka, at 22 years old, fell to the ground clutching the back of his hamstring in the 34th minute, prompting Arteta to make a substitution, bringing in Fabio Vieira in his stead.
Addressing the situation after the match, the Spanish coach did not convey a sense of optimism regarding the injury.
“He [Saka] attempted a backheel in the first half,” Arteta relayed via Football.London.
“He felt a discomfort. It appeared to be muscular. He was uneasy, and we had no choice but to substitute him. We don’t possess any further details.
The issue was significant enough to prevent him from participating for the remainder of the match, and that is a cause for concern for us.”
This injury occurrence could not have taken place at a more inopportune moment for the Gunners as they brace themselves for an immense showdown against potential title contenders Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
