Saka leaves Selhurst Park on crutches after Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace

Mikel Arteta admitted he is 'quite concerned' about Bukayo Saka's hamstring injury, which saw the winger leave Selhurst Park on crutches on Saturday evening.

The big blow for Arsenal comes amid a packed schedule and, worryingly for the Gunners, is the winger's third hamstring injury of the season.

The 23-year-old damaged his right hamstring on international duty for England against Greece on October 10, forcing him to miss Arsenal's Premier League match against Bournemouth nine days later.

He then suffered the same injury again – it is unclear at what stage – against Chelsea on November 10. Saka missed two UEFA Nations League games for England before returning against Nottingham Forest on 23 November.

And now, against Crystal Palace, Saka left the field after 24 minutes, apparently suffering pain in his right hamstring.

Arteta said: 'He (Saka) felt something in his hamstring. He couldn't continue. He will have to be judged. Pretty worried about that one.

'It's difficult to do that (assessment) now. They tested it inside, but it's very difficult to say how bad it is.'

The England international – who provided five goals and 10 assists in the competition – was replaced at Selhurst Park by Belgian team-mate Leandro Trossard.

Arsenal managed to win despite Saka's injury, with Arteta's side recording a 5–1 win to move three points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal fans will be hoping it is not a repeat of the hamstring injury from October.

During the international break that month, the winger was forced to withdraw from the England squad after sustaining the injury during their match against Greece.

That hamstring problem kept the 23-year-old out for 39 days, a period that also included the disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.

With clashes against Man United and rivals Tottenham in the new year, Mikel Arteta will be hopeful it is not the same problem for the Arsenal player.

Prior to Saka's injury, the Gunners made a good start to the trip to Selhurst Park, with Gabriel Jesus scoring after just six minutes on the evening.

The Brazilian arrived at the back post to poke home from close range after defender Gabriel Magalhaes took a small tap on the cross.

However, Palace hit back soon afterwards through winger Ismaila Sarr, who drove forward and curled a sparkling effort past David Raya.

But Arsenal quickly hit back and took the lead again in the 14th minute when Jesus was again on hand to provide a neat finish from a corner.

Arteta's side then gave themselves some breathing space in the match when Kai Havertz reacted quickest to Jesus' header and poked home from inside the six-yard box.

Second half goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice secured a 5–1 victory.

Saka's possible injury comes as Arteta slowly made the core of his Arsenal squad available again.

In a big boost for the Gunners, Rice and Riccardo Calafiori both came on in the second half after an injury spell.

Rice missed the Gunners' 3-2 Carabao Cup win over Palace on Wednesday due to a minor injury.

While Calafiori has been sidelined since the beginning of December.

In the Italian's absence, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly started at left back in Arsenal's previous league match, a 0-0 draw against Everton.

Fullback Oleksandr Zinchenko was also in contention to play in the match but was left out of the squad.

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