Bukayo Saka suffered a torn hamstring during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. Getty Images
Bukayo Saka suffered a torn hamstring during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. Getty Images
Bukayo Saka suffered a torn hamstring during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. Getty Images
Bukayo Saka suffered a torn hamstring during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. Getty Images

Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for 'more than two months' following surgery on hamstring


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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.”

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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The Ashes

Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs

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SPECS
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WWE TLC results

Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair

Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins

Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles

Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax

Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match

Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre

Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match

Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match

Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day

R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
The biog

Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists. 

Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.

Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic 

The biog

Age: 23

Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering

Favourite hobby: playing the piano

Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"

Family: Married and with a daughter

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Updated: December 28, 2024, 12:26 PM`