Arsenal star Bukayo Saka suffered a torn hamstring in the Gunners’ emphatic 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, ruling him out for ‘many weeks’. Saka’s absence comes ahead of a huge run of games for Arsenal, who still hope to win the Premier League title, despite their autumn slump.

The Gunners play Ipswich, Brentford and Brighton in their next three league games, and then comes two huge cup ties. Arteta’s men welcome Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-finals five days before hosting Manchester United in the FA Cup. Then it’s the small matter of the north London Derby before clashes with Aston Villa and Dinamo Zagreb to round out five consecutive home games.

Having already lost Martin Odegaard for an extended period, coinciding with their dip in form, fans are worried about what Saka’s absence could do for their season, especially after Arteta suggested that they won’t be signing a replacement in January.

With that in mind, here are four ways that Arsenal could line up without him.

1. Martinelli returns to the right
For starters, it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see Arsenal in any other shape than a 4-3-3. Yes, Arteta has used a 4-2-3-1 formation during his managerial career but the principles remain the same; two wingers and one striker.

The obvious option would be to play Gabriel Martinelli as the right winger, where Saka was been so ever-present since his breakthrough under Unai Emery. The Brazilian isn’t having his best season but has played on the right 10 times for Arsenal.

Last season, the Gunners won three and drew one of the four matches in which Martinelli, a left winger by trade, played in the role. That draw was at Manchester City, suggesting that Arteta has a successful formula on his hands if the 23-year-old shifts sides.

2. Arteta uses Guardiola’s tactic
Had it not been for Gabriel Jesus’ goalscoring form in the past week, this would be another fairly straightforward option for Arteta. The striker has notched five goals in his last two games – both of which were against Palace – after not scoring in the league since January 2023.

Jesus may be hitting a purple patch up front but knows how to operate on the right. The 27-year-old has scored eight goals and registered 10 assists in 28 games as a right winger, although most of those came for Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City team.

Arteta would risk upsetting Jesus with the move but Kai Havertz could push further upfield and the inclusion of Thomas Partey gives the Gunners a more solid base. One to ponder.

3. Trossard shows his versatility
For £27million, Leandro Trossard has been a handy pick-up by Arsenal. Having joined from Brighton two years ago, the Belgium international has added goals and versatility to the Gunners’ attack and that’s exactly what Arteta will want from him if he decides he’s best to replace Saka.

Trossard, 30, has only played once on the right-hand side for Arsenal – the Gunners’ 4-1 win at home to Leeds in 2023 – but got plenty of minutes in the role at Brighton and was deployed there during Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign. The forward was signed to give Arteta more options in all three positions in attack, so it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to get the nod.

4. Sterling gets his chance
Last but certainly not least, the most experienced right winger of them all at Arsenal – bar Saka – Raheem Sterling. Boasting 178 career appearances in the position while at Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and now Arsenal, Sterling has registered an impressive 51 goals and 48 assists.

The 82-time England international hasn’t broke into Arteta’s preferred line-up since his loan move from Chelsea but an opening on the right flank could be perfect. Sterling, also 30, has already been used on the right five times by Arteta, although they’ve mostly been substitute appearances.

“It’s been tough and very difficult for me as well to accept that I haven’t given him more,” the Arsenal boss confessed earlier this month. “When he hasn’t started the games, 90 per cent of the subs that I make is related to saving minutes or because of injuries or avoiding injuries.

“It’s not tactical reasons. I would like him to play much more as I think he can impact the team in a very good way. He’s very good in the dressing room and is absolutely desperate to play.

“He had this very important role, impacting every game, and suddenly you are in this position for a while. Not just here but at Chelsea as well. So it’s always very difficult and I feel a lot of sympathy for players when they are in this moment. Hopefully we can change it.”

Real Madrid have been engaged in a more or less constant war of words, both in the media and court room, for much of the last decade with La Liga. However they have fresh ammunition for their frustrations.

Their latest issue is the timing of their games. Los Blancos have played away from home 12 times this season in domestic football, and only one of them was before 21:00 CEST. That was against Leganes at Butarque, a trip that did not require them to leave the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid feel they have been unfairly punished by the schedule, due to the timings of the games, as reported by Diario AS. It is noted that with the post-game recovery routine, and the necessity to eat, at times they are not asleep until 04:00am.

Given their injury crisis this season, it is no surprise that they are looking at all areas to improve their rest and recovery. So far are averaging just over an injury per game. Undoubtedly, the timing of their games is not helping matters, but on the other hand, others would probably point to the fact that Los Blancos want to maximise their financial gains from television money.

Erling Haaland has endured an awful run in front of goal, scoring just three times in his last 12 Premier League games, though he has retained the backing of boss Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has refused to blame Erling Haaland amid both his and Manchester City’s wretched form.

Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa means the reigning champions have won just one of their last 12 games in all competitions. That has seen them plummet to seventh in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool who also hold a game in hand over City.

One of their biggest problems has been the dreadful form of Haaland in front of goal. Having started the campaign with 10 goals in five games, the striker has now scored just three times in his last 12 league outings.

Haaland took responsibility for his struggles to score following the defeat at Villa Park. But ahead of the Boxing Day visit of Everton, Guardiola has insisted it is up to the whole team to help the Norwegian.

“It is about us, not just one player,” Guardiola said when asked about Haaland. “In the past when we scored goals and Erling was so prolific and helping us it was because of the team. But when you have problems at the back and middle, it is all about the team.

“Not just one player. If it’s just one player it would be easy to see the reason why. It’s not about that. Erling is so important for us, will be important for us and we need to use him better.

“This situation is new for all of us. It’s about us, everyone. The guys are running and making an effort more than ever. People say we are not running, fighting, it’s this player, this manager – it is not about that.

“It is about many little details or some big details that make us not as good as we were. But we have another opportunity on Boxing Day. We have players coming back and at a certain time we will be better.”

Haaland had admitted on Saturday that he felt responsibility for his struggles to score. But he backed Guardiola to find a way to turn City’s fortunes around as their title defence continues to falter.

“Of course, we are disappointed, it’s not good enough. It’s not good enough from me,” he told TNT Sports. “We have to continue, we have to believe and we have to keep working hard. We have to continue.

“First I’m looking at myself, I haven’t been doing things good enough, I haven’t been scoring my chances. I have to do better, I haven’t been good enough. We know how important confidence is and you can see that it affects every human being. That is how it is, we have to continue and stay positive even though it is difficult.”

“He won the Premier League six times in seven years, so we will never forget that. He will find the solutions. He has been doing that every single year. We still believe in him, we have to work harder than ever right now.”