Arsenal have struggled to get their two most creative influences – Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard – on the pitch at the same time this season.
The talismanic duo have featured alongside each other in just 14 of the Gunners' 31 games in all competitions, with Arsenal losing just once as the pair have shared the field. However, they are unlikely to be rubbing shoulders at the Emirates Stadium any time soon.
A long-term one injury to Odegaard earlier this season has been followed by a lengthy spell on the sidelines for Saka, with Arsenal having suffered without the latter since he entered the treatment room before Christmas.
Arsenal need their star man back as soon as humanly possible, so what's the latest on Saka's injury?
Arsenal were right to fear the worst when Saka hit the deck and then left during the 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on 21 December. The winger lasted just 24 minutes before being withdrawn with a hamstring problem, immediately heading for scans to determine the severity of the problem.
Saka has proven himself to be remarkably consistent over recent campaigns, especially given the rough treatment he so often receives from opposition defenders. This is arguably the most devastating and lengthy injury of his career to date.
Saka underwent surgery for the thigh injury shortly after the trip to Selhurst Park, but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted the forward will be out for at least two months as he recovers.
Speaking in Decemberthe Spaniard revealed: “He's had a procedure and everything went well, but unfortunately he's going to be out for many, many weeks.
“It will take more than two months. I don't know exactly how much longer. It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, and the mobility of that. It's very hard to say.”
Saka has recently been spotted at Arsenal's training ground, but he is still far from making a comeback. The end of February is the earliest we could see the 23-year-old on the pitch, with a March return date looking most likely at the moment.
Commenting on Saka's recovery, Arteta recently said: “He's been around a lot. It's great to have him. He always has a smile on his face. He's going through an unknown period for him because he's never been injured for so long.
“We've been discussing things we can do together and things he can do to use his time in the right way to make him a better person, to make sure he spends his time adequately with the opportunity he has, so that when he returns he is in the right place.”
Arsenal's number 7 has already missed five games since injuring his thigh and is likely to miss another ten at least if he is not back by March. In that period of time, he will miss a series of important clashes in three different competitions.
IN Premier Leaguehe will miss the second North London derby of the season, as well as the duels with defending champions Manchester City and Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest. By the time he returns, the title race could be over with Liverpool in a commanding position.
Saka will also be watching from the sidelines as Arsenal wrap up their Champions League stage campaign. Matches against Dinamo Zagreb and Girona will overtake him as the Gunners seek automatic qualification to the last 16, while the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Newcastle United will also be played without the winger.
Arsenal have been remarkably toothless in recent outings and the vacuum of creativity has seen them stumble at the start of the new year. With Gabriel Jesus also picking up a nasty injury in last weekend's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United that could see him out. miss the rest of the seasonThe Gunners may have to sort out their attacking woes in the January transfer window.
Currently, Arsenal's four main strikers are Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and the on-loan Raheem Sterling, none of whom are in particularly exciting form. Splashing the cash this winter can be essential.
Arsenal have been linked with Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo and the Cameroon international, who has scored 13 times in the Premier League this season, could be a perfect, if expensive, alternative to Saka.
Nico Williams has long been admired but the Athletic Club winger favors playing on the left-back, while the Gunners missed out on signing long-term target Pedro Neto in the summer after Chelsea swooped in to quickly complete a deal.