Mikel Arteta has pleaded with Bukayo Saka to take a rare holiday while he recovers from a hamstring injury, saying it could make him ‘really better’.
The winger left Selhurst Park on crutches after the Gunners’ 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on December 21, having injured his right hamstring 22 minutes into the match.
He underwent surgery the following week and is not expected to be back until late February at the very earliest, a March return the more likely.
Saka has been a mainstay of Arsenal’s team for some time - over the past three seasons, the England man has missed just 10 out of Arsenal's 172 matches in all competitions.