Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has reportedly suffered a devastating setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. The winger was initially feared to be out until March with the problem he suffered in the Gunners’ 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in December.

Saka has missed the last two months and his absence is part of a wider injury crisis at Arsenal. Kai Havertz was the latest player to be ruled out long-term.

The German also has a hamstring injury but, unlike Saka, he is set to miss the rest of the season in a cruel blow to Mikel Arteta. Gabriel Jesus had already been ruled out until 2025-26 with a serious knee problem. Gabriel Martinelli is sidelined for a month with a hamstring issue.

Arsenal were hoping that Saka would return next month to ease the pressure on Arteta’s few forward options. However, The Sun report that the England international will miss another eight weeks as the Gunners’ problems get worse.

Arteta is determined not to rush back his star player, which could prompt a recurrence.

Saka would miss until mid-April if Arsenal's fears come to fruition. That could rule him out until the final six or seven games of the season, by which time the Premier League title race may already be decided.

Liverpool are seven points clear at the top of the league following Wednesday's Merseyside derby stalemate and will be looking on at Arsenal's injury woes unenviously. Arne Slot's side are yet to have any major fitness concerns this season, with Ibrahima Konate the only key player to miss any meaningful action.

Arsenal have had their attacking options wiped out and they head into Saturday's trip to Leicester with only three senior forwards, including the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri. Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling are expected to make up the rest of Arteta's forward line.

If Saka does miss until April, he will not be part of Thomas Tuchel's first England squad. There was already a sense that March's World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia will come too soon for the 23-year-old.

Saka is almost certain to be a key part of Tuchel's plans going forward but to miss out on the first squad will come as a personal disappointment.

Meanwhile, Arsenal face an increasingly tough set of fixtures that could decide their campaign with several first-team stars unavailable. Among their next six Premier League matches are clashes with Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea.

There are also London derbies against West Ham and Fulham. The Champions League last-16 ties will be played on March 4 and 11.