Crystal Palace1 - 5Arsenal

After attempting to send in a cross from the right flank, the 23-year-old immediately grabbed the back of his thigh and signalled to the bench that he needed to come off, being replaced by Leandro Trossard for the second 45.

Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches ahead of further assessment, and while head coach Mikel Arteta could not give a firm update on the seriousness of his injury, he conceded that he was "pretty worried" about his star man.

Saka undoubtedly belongs in the irreplaceable category of Arsenal players, having registered a magnificent nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season, including a league-high 10 Premier League assists.

However, Arteta is expected to do without the Hale End graduate for at least a couple of weeks, starting with next Friday's home match against Ipswich Town, and here, Sports Mole looks at how the Gunners could line up without Saka during the length of his absence.

A player who seldom spends time out injured despite sustaining bumps and bruises in most games, Saka has only sat out two matches for Arsenal this season, missing October's Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk and Premier League loss to Bournemouth.

On the former occasion, Gabriel Jesus was selected to fill the void on the right-hand side, while Raheem Sterling started on the right against Bournemouth but was then sacrificed for Jakub Kiwior after William Saliba was red-carded.

With Sterling also missing the Palace win due to injury and Jesus already occupying the centre-forward role, Gabriel Martinelli switched to the right-hand side instead as Saka's replacement Trossard took up his favoured left-wing position.

Martinelli was effective down that side for Arsenal at Selhurst Park, but in his current purple patch, the born-again Jesus must be the first option to deputise for Saka on the right flank after scoring five goals in two games against Palace.

It is no secret that the 27-year-old prefers to operate through the middle, but his mazy dribbling and unpredictability on the ball - not to mention his newfound confidence and clinical touch over the past week - should mean that Arsenal are in safe hands until Saka returns, even if he cannot replicate the England international's pinpoint corner deliveries.

Jesus benefitted from Kai Havertz moving into midfield to start up front on Saturday evening, but the latter was only dropped into a deeper role due to Declan Rice's recent injury; the Englishman was only considered for a second-half substitute appearance.

A fully-fit Rice will no doubt come straight back into the XI when fully fit - most likely in the left eight role as Thomas Partey anchors the midfield - and Arteta is unlikely to consider demoting Havertz, one of the key cogs of his Arsenal system.

The Germany international reverting to his more familiar number nine role would mean that Jesus would surely have to accept minutes out wide if he is to retain his place in the XI, but he should not turn his nose up to that job while he is firing on all cylinders.

The fledgling Ethan Nwaneri is another alternative option out wide, but the 17-year-old is seen as more of a backup for Martin Odegaard in the number 10 position and is still waiting for his first Premier League start.

Written by

Ben Knapton