Talismanic Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is still "a few weeks" away from a return to action, according to head coach Mikel Arteta.

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• Saka out with hamstring injury
• Makeshift frontline struggling to score
• Title challenge virtually over

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners boss told reporters that despite the fact Saka's rehabilitation is going well, the England winger is still not due back in the first team for several weeks. This is after the 23-year-old underwent surgery having sustained a long-term hamstring injury against Crystal Palace in December.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Gunners have suffered a number of damaging injuries throughout the season, with key attackers like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus among the players to have joined Saka on the sidelines. The team has been left with a makeshift forward line of Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, and it's seriously hampered their title challenge, with the north London side currently struggling for goals.

• WHAT ARTETA SAID

  When asked for an update on Saka after Arsenal's damaging 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, Arteta said: "After the international break let’s see where he (Saka) is. His progress is really good, he is really willing – as you can all imagine – so we are positive that in a few weeks hopefully he will be back.”

  He added on Liverpool's commanding 15-point lead at the Premier League summit: “I don't want to say that [the title race is over], but today the frustration is that we haven’t won our game. We know the urgency and you’re obligated to win every single match. You won’t have any chance of doing that, I don’t think it’s the right moment to talk about that."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Arteta's team must quickly lick their wounds and reset ahead of an important midweek Champions League fixture against PSV. A 7-1 demolition of the Dutch champions in the first leg of their round of 16 tie means the Gunners are all but through to the UCL quarter-finals and will likely rotate their team for the Wednesday night clash, but a positive boost will be crucial nonetheless after Sunday's disappointing draw at Old Trafford.

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Category: News