Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that he expects Bukayo Sako to be out of action until March after the England winger underwent surgery on his torn hamstring.
The Spanish coach had previously said he expected Saka would be sidelined for “many weeks” after picking up the injury during Arsenal's 5-1 win against Crystal Palace last weekend.
In their first match since Saka's injury, Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League table on Friday after a 1-0 home win over second-bottom Ipswich Town thanks to a first-half goal from Kai Havertz.
It meant the Gunners leapfrogged over Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, closing the gap on leaders Liverpool to six points, although the Merseysiders have a game in hand.
And after the match at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta went into more detail about the condition of Sakaa, who has five goals and 10 assists to his name this season.
“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.”
Saka's absence comes at a point in the season when the fixture list becomes relentless with Arsenal still fighting on four fronts – the Premier League, Uefa Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup – and in January alone, the will face nine matches.
Next month sees them play five times in the Premier League League (including a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur), two League Cup semi-finals ties against Newcastle United, a clash against Manchester United in the FA Cup third round and their final two Champions League group-stage matches (versus Dinamo Zagreb and Girona).
Saka joins on loan attacker Raheem Sterling, right-back Ben White and left-back Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines with their next game coming away to Brentford on New Year's Day.
Brazilian attacker Gabriel Martinelli was given a nod for the Ipswich game which saw Arsenal enjoy 83 per cent of the possession but struggle to create clear-cut chances.
“For sure, three points at home is nice,” said Germany international Havertz after the match. “Tough opponent, it's hard to break them down. They didn't have a proper chance so we controlled the game well. We still could have scored one or two more goals.
“I try to help the team, it was a different role for me today. Everyone has to step up because we know Bukayo Saka is a very important player for us. But we have to adapt.”
Arteta was pleased with how the team coped without Saka. “Very good,” he said. “It will be different. We had moments in the second half. It is a unit that is new and will take time for players to understand fully.”
“Considering all the circumstances we had this season, the amount of times we had to play with 10 men, all the injuries that we had, it's good to be in the position that we are but it's not where we want to be. We want to be first.”
Midfielder Declan Rice said others now have to take extra responsibility in Saka's absence and believes his own performances are improving after recovering from the physical and mental exertion of England's run to the Euro 2024 final.
“Tonight was different without him – he's been our main man,” added Rice. “We're going to have to adapt. It's a great chance for players to step up over the coming months and make their mark.
“I had a slow start after the Euros but the last couple of weeks I've found my feet again and I'm feeling back to myself.”
There was also some brighter news about 30-year-old Chelsea loanee Sterling, though, with his knee injury not expected to keep him out as long as first feared.
“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.”
