Relief for Arsenal with Bukayo Saka’s injury not as bad as first feared

Arsenal have received a boost after it emerged that Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury is not as significant as first feared.

Saka was withdrawn in the second half of Arsenal’s 5-0 Premier League victory against Leeds at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The England international missed three and a half months of last season following surgery on his right hamstring and the concern was that he could face a similar layoff after he hobbled off with a left hamstring issue. While it remains unclear when Saka will return to the fold, the early indications are thought to be positive for the 23-year-old – and it is understood that it is not anticipated he will be sidelined for a similar timeframe as last season.

Arsenal, who have won both of their matches so far, head to Anfield next Sunday to face the Premier League champions Liverpool.

Martin Ødegaard, the Arsenal captain, was also substituted in the win against Leeds after he fell awkwardly on his right shoulder. He was withdrawn from a fan signing event at the Emirates Stadium on Monday as he focuses on his recovery. But, like Saka, it is not expected that the Norway international will face a sustained period away from action.

Meanwhile, the new Arsenal signing Eberechi Eze will create “magic moments” and take the club to a different level, the manager, Mikel Arteta, has claimed. Eze was presented to the Emirates Stadium crowd in the minutes before Arsenal’s demolition job of Leeds which fired the Gunners to an early sight of the Premier League summit.

Arteta said of his latest recruit: “He [Eze] has the capacity to create these magic moments. He can do it from different positions, different situations. He’s got that flair and he’s got that charisma about him that is very contagious.

“It shows how much we want to take this club to a different level. His talent is unquestionable. He’s experienced in this league. The personality is unbelievable. He can play different positions. We know he can play as an attacking midfielder, right or left. He doesn’t care. And you can tell that what happened on that pitch [before the game] meant the world to him so I am delighted to have him.”

skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Football Daily Free daily newsletter Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football Enter your email address Sign up Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy . We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion

Eze is the seventh new face at the Emirates Stadium this summer amid a £250m spending spree which leaves Arteta armed with what he believes is the most complete side of his near six years in charge.

Click here to read article