Arsenal have been left sweating over Bukayo Saka’s injury.

On Saturday evening, the Gunners were in fine form as they secured a vital win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

A brace from Gabriel Jesus plus goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice sealed a huge 5-1 win. Ismaila Sarr was the scorer for Oliver Glasner’s side.

However, the victory was marred by the fact that talisman Saka was forced off with what looked like another hamstring injury in the 24th minute.

Speaking after the match, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta gave a worrying update as Arsenal are now sweating over the severity of the injury.

With matches against the likes of Ipswich Town, Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United on the horizon, it has been reported that Saka could be out for a few weeks.

As reported by The Times, the winger is likely to be out of action for several weeks after injuring his right hamstring.

The report stated that a typical recovery time for a moderate hamstring injury is around four to six weeks.

However, we have previously seen Saka recover from hamstring injuries before the expected return date, giving Arsenal hope ahead of the busy period.

On the back of Saka’s injury, Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer has urged Jesus to step up.

He said on BBC’s Match of the Day: “It will be a big loss for Arsenal. [They will miss] not only Saka’s goals but his assists which is why I think it is important for Jesus to step up and try to replace him.

“He was having such a tough time in front of goal, but I think Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of credit because of what happened in midweek, he gets his goals and you can see the belief he would’ve had in training. He had to start him and it was a wonderful performance and it’s no surprise he was back in the goals.”

Shearer added: “His all-around play I thought was very, very good today also. He was bringing players into the game with little touches, going in behind. You can see he’s got a pace about him again and he feels as if he belongs back in the team.”

Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-2 on Sunday in 39-year-old veteran right winger and full-back Jesus Navas’ last game as a professional footballer.

The Sevilla captain came off the bench in the second half as the crowd at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium paid tribute to him.

Navas played 705 games to score 39 goals for Sevilla and made 119 assists for his club across two spells. He helped Sevilla win four UEFA Europa League titles.

Navas also won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the EURO 2012 and 2024 titles with his native Spain.

He also played for Manchester City to bag the 2014 English Premier League title.

In Sunday’s home game against Sevilla, Real Madrid drew first blood as The Whites’ French superstar Kylian Mbappe scored a long-range stunner.

Real Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde also sent a long-range missile towards the goal to double the gap in the 20th minute.

Brazilian winger Rodrygo made it 3-0 for Real Madrid only a minute before Sevilla striker Isaac Romero scored a header.

Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz finished in the box following fine teamwork in the 53rd minute, making it 4-1.

On a quick counterattack, Sevilla’s Dodi Lukebakio scored a low shot that beat Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 85th minute, making it 4-2.

Winners Real Madrid leapfrogged their bitter rivals Barcelona into second place in the Spanish La Liga table.

Atletico Madrid have 41 points in 18 matches to end 2024 as the Spanish leaders.

Their city rivals Real Madrid have 40 points. Meanwhile, Barcelona are third with 38 points after they lost to Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a Saturday home match.

The La Liga is set to enter the Christmas break to observe the annual holy festival, and there will be no football fixtures in the Spanish top division for the rest of this year.

The league will see the Valencia vs. Real Madrid fixture at Mestalla Stadium on Jan. 3, as the matchweek 12 game was previously postponed due to Storm Dana.

In the 18th week of the Spanish La Liga, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona faced off in a thrilling and intense match.

After a closely contested game, Atletico emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, securing three crucial points and overtaking Barcelona at the top of the league standings. The match featured highquality football, with both teams demonstrating their strengths.

Atletico Madrid capitalized on key opportunities, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive resilience. Barcelona fought hard to equalize but fell short in the end, leaving their fans disappointed.

This result proved decisive in shaking up the league standings. With the win, Atletico Madrid climbed to the top of the table with 41 points, while Barcelona, who had been leading the league, slipped to second place.

Atletico Madrid’s victory highlights their impressive form this season as they continue to be a strong contender for the La Liga title. Meanwhile, Barcelona will need to regroup quickly to reclaim their position at the top as the competition intensifies in the latter stages of the league. Fans and analysts alike have praised Atletico’s performance in this key match, which showcased their determination and tactical discipline.

Barcelona, on the other hand, will be reflecting on missed opportunities and planning their next steps to regain momentum in the league.

As the race for the La Liga title heats up, both teams remain strong contenders, promising more excitement for football fans around the world.

The Kabul Times