Injury expert casts verdict on how long Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard will be out for…

Injury specialist provides insight on the expected absence of Arsenal players Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

An injury specialist has shared their assessment regarding the potential duration of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard’s sidelining after both players were compelled to leave the field during Arsenal’s impressive 5-0 win against Leeds United on Saturday.

The Gunners achieved their second consecutive victory in the 2025-26 Premier League season, with Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres each scoring two goals.

Saka also contributed to the scoreline but was substituted in the second half due to what seemed to be a left hamstring issue.

By this time, club captain Odegaard had already exited the match due to injury. The Norwegian midfielder had continued playing after experiencing a shoulder injury in the first half but was ultimately replaced by Ethan Nwaneri in the 38th minute.

“Martin felt something in his shoulder when he landed,” Arteta commented post-match.

“Bukayo, while carrying the ball, felt something in his hamstring. I believe it’s a different issue, not the same as his previous injury.

“He felt something while sprinting, which is never a good indication. We need to consult with the doctors [on Sunday]. Let’s wait and see.”

Expected Duration of Absence for Odegaard and Saka.

Arsenal supporters are anxiously awaiting encouraging updates regarding the two injured players.

Nevertheless, both athletes are now significant doubts for the upcoming Premier League match against reigning champions Liverpool next weekend.

Fans on X quickly sought an evaluation from injury expert Physio Scout. After analyzing the footage, let’s delve deeper into the preliminary prognosis.

Martin Odegaard’s Injury

“Martin Odegaard had to leave the match early in the first half against Leeds due to a right shoulder injury.

Direct contact with the ground, with his arm close to his side, suggests a possible AC joint sprain/injury. A broken collarbone is another possibility, but it seems less likely in this case.

Anticipated Recovery Times:

Low-grade AC joint sprain:

Grade 2/3 sprain: 2–4 weeks

“If it is confirmed to be a low-grade sprain, a swift return can be arranged. Typically, it revolves around managing pain, which means in the worst-case scenario, he might be sidelined for a week or two.

“In the case of a grade 2 or 3 sprain, the situation changes. However, he would only be expected to miss 2 to 4 weeks. Scans are needed for confirmation.

Bukayo Saka injury

Regrettably, the outlook suggests that Saka may be unavailable for an extended period. In a different tweet, Physio Scout mentioned: “Bukayo Saka had to leave the field in the first half due to a left hamstring injury sustained during a sprint and pass.

He appeared visibly upset, and the nature of the injury indicated a strain rather than mere tightness.

Expected Recovery Times:

Grade 1: 2-4 weeks

Grade 2: 4-6 weeks

Grade 3: 8-12 weeks++

“Considering the incident, it is more probable that he has a grade 1 or 2 strain, which would mean a recovery period of 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the scan results.

Notably, this is not the same hamstring that required surgery last year, which provides some comfort.

“As always, the precise diagnosis and recovery timeline following a hamstring injury can only be established after scans. Please stay tuned for additional updates.”