Saka, Sterling in double injury blow for Arsenal, Christmas sackings in Italy and Spain

Gunners boss Mike Arteta reveals that both Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling are out for weeks, so time to update those fantasy teams

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Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (let) walks off the Selhurst Park pitch after suffering a hamstring injury in his side’s game against Crystal Palace. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:29am, 24 Dec 2024

Given that it’s Christmas Eve, and the law of averages dictates that at least 30 per cent of those reading this haven’t finished their shopping yet, we’ll keep this short and sweet.

Well, that and there is even less than usual going on at the moment. And in that vein, there will not be an update on Wednesday; plus the Post sports desk will either be just getting home, still asleep, or opening our stockings to see what Father Christmas brought. If it’s socks, there’s going to be trouble.

Still, there were a couple of things worthy of mention that happened while most of us were sleeping, and with the English Premier League entering its holiday rush, lets start there.

Saka injury update

The news most were expecting after he was spotted hobbling out of Crystal Palace on crutches on Saturday, Bukayo Saka is out for “many weeks” with a hamstring tear.

Defeat at home to Juventus was the final nail in Alessandro Nesta’s coffin. Photo: AFP

In a press conference on Monday, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta called the England international’s loss a “huge blow”, and then revealed that he would also be without Raheem Sterling “for weeks” as well.

Sterling – the obvious back-up option for Saka – suffered a knee injury before the game against Palace, and Arteta said the on-loan Chelsea winger would need further testing on Tuesday to assess the extent of any damage.

If you need to replace Saka (£10.5m) in your fantasy team, then our resident FPL expert Lars Hamer is recommending either spreading the wealth among some premium players, or bagging Newcastle’s Aleksander Isak (£8.9m) and a cheap midfielder if you have a couple of transfers to blow.

Bah humbug

There’s never a good time to get sacked, but two days before Christmas has got to really sting. Only marginally better to be giving the news than receiving it you’d thing, unless you’re a proper Scrooge and revel in that sort of job.