Why isn’t Bukayo Saka playing for Arsenal against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup today?

The Gunners face Newcastle in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup but their hopes of winning silverware will be hampered by the absence of star striker Saka.

Arsenal are looking to win their first major silverware since the 2019/20 FA Cup this season and have given themselves a more than realistic chance of winning the Carabao Cup (also known as the EFL Cup or the League Cup), which will see them take on Newcastle . United in the first leg of the semi-finals on Tuesday (January 7). However, their hopes of winning are affected by the absence of star striker Bukayo Saka.

What injury does Bukayo Saka have?

Saka was forced off midway through the first half of the 5–1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace on December 21, with the Gunners later revealing the winger had suffered a serious hamstring injury. The 23-year-old underwent surgery just before New Year, with coach Mikel Arteta revealing he expects Saka to be out for “many, many weeks”.

Without the winger, Arsenal followed up their victory against Palace with a 1-0 home win against Ipswich Town on 27 December, a 3-1 away win against Brentford on 1 January and a 1-1 draw at Brighton on 4 January.

Which Arsenal games could Saka miss?

The North Londoners play an FA Cup match against Manchester United (January 12), Champions League matches against Dinamo Zagreb (January 22) and Girona (January 29), and Premier League matches against Tottenham (January 15), Aston Villa (January 18) and Manchester City (February 2) on the horizon. They then complete their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle on February 5.

In the other semi-final, Tottenham Hotspur will take on Liverpool (January 8 and February 6), with Spurs at home in the first leg.

Since the start of the 2021/22 season, Saka has scored 56 goals in 162 appearances in all competitions for the north Londoners and has scored five goals and provided a further ten assists in 16 Premier League appearances this season.

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