Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has insisted that he will come back stronger after undergoing successful surgery on a hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old is facing approximately two months on the sidelines with the serious issue, which he picked up in the Gunners' 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace on December 21.
Mikel Arteta quickly conceded that Saka would be out for "many, many weeks" after tearing a muscle, the most severe injury of the England international's embryonic career so far.
Saka began his lengthy absence from the first team on Friday evening, where Arsenal laboured to a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town in his absence, and Arteta confirmed afterwards that his star man had gone under the knife.
On Saturday afternoon, the Hale End graduate took to Instagram to share an update on his condition, posting a photo of him doing a thumbs-up in his hospital bed and affirming that "opportunities" as opposed to "obstacles" are ahead.
Saka highlights "opportunities" after operation
"The majority see obstacles, but few see the opportunities," Saka wrote. "Recovery has begun and I'm coming back stronger ! Thank you all for your messages #GodsPlan🙏🏿."
As Saka is not scheduled to return to action until the end of February or early March, the 23-year-old will sit out a plethora of crucial games for the Gunners, including both legs of their EFL Cup semi-final against Newcastle United.
Arsenal will also have to cope without the 23-year-old for the second North London derby of the season, as Tottenham Hotspur visit the Emirates on January 15, three days after their FA Cup opener at home to Manchester United.
The visit of Manchester City to the Emirates on February 2 will also come too soon for Saka to make his comeback, and he will miss their final two Champions League league phase matches against Girona and Dinamo Zagreb too.
Arsenal should progress straight to the last 16 without the need for a playoff, as they sit third in the UCL standings, but it remains to be seen if he will be fine for the first leg of that tie, which will be played on March 4-5.
How will Arsenal cope without Saka?
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Against Ipswich on Friday evening, Arteta simply started with the system he adopted when Saka injured himself at Selhurst Park, with Gabriel Martinelli on the right and Leandro Trossard on the left.
Martinelli did well on his unnatural side against Palace, but he was much less effective when the Tractor Boys came to visit, even if he was not helped by Kieran McKenna's side doubling up on him.
Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri are alternative options on the right flank for Arsenal, but neither can match Saka's creative influence, as the Englishman has banked a brilliant 13 assists in addition to nine goals this season.
Saka's deliveries from set-pieces have also been pivotal to Arsenal's staggering success from corners this season - the 23-year-old almost always finds a red shirt from the flag - and the Gunners were evidently worse off without him on Friday.
However, Arteta's men also put three more goals past Palace after he went off injured and struggled to break down Everton and Fulham with Saka on the pitch, so only time will tell whether his layoff could cause their title hopes to crash and burn.
Ben Knapton
