Bukayo Saka’s injury record has been remarkably light for a player of his workload, but his current hamstring layoff marks the longest absence of his career.
Arsenal are hoping their talisman returns in April as they enter the final stretch of the season.
Bukayo Saka has been a constant in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side, a player whose durability has defied the relentless demands of modern football – until this season.
Since Arteta took charge, Saka has featured in 230 of his 271 matches, averaging 79 minutes per appearance. When fit, he has only been left out of 11 games, a staggering statistic that underlines both his reliability, importance to the team and why this was likely an injury waiting to happen.
That also makes his current absence with a torn hamstring, sustained in December 2024, all the more significant. It is the longest injury layoff of his career, forcing him to undergo surgery and sidelining him for more than 100 days so far.
The 20 matches missed are by far the most he has been absent for in a single season.
Before this setback, Saka’s injury record was remarkably light, particularly considering his explosive playing style and the relentless defensive attention he attracts.
His previous absences were brief: a 15-day thigh issue in October 2024, an eight-day muscle strain in May 2024, and a 17-day knock in March 2024.
Prior to this season, his longest spell out was 19 days in October 2023, again due to a thigh injury.
Despite occasional knocks, Saka’s ability to bounce back quickly has been a defining characteristic of his career. Even in his early early years, he shrugged off minor setbacks – an ankle injury in December 2020 saw him miss just three days, a knee problem in February 2020 kept him out for just 13.
With Saka expected back in April, Arsenal will be desperate to reintegrate him into the squad for the crucial run-in, with, hopefully, a Champions League trophy to still fight for. Given his track record, few would bet against him returning at his best, but this season has served as a stark reminder that even the most durable players are not invincible.
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