Arsenal star man Bukayo Saka is set to be sidelined for several weeks, leaving head coach Mikel Arteta with the task of devising a winning strategy without the England international.
Saka was injured during the first half of Arsenal's victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, a match in which Gabriel Jesus netted two of the team's five goals.
"It's not looking good, he's going to be out for many weeks," Arteta revealed ahead of the squad's upcoming clash with Ipswich. "I'm putting some ideas together [to deal with the absence]," he continued.
"I haven't got there yet but I have a few. I want to speak with them as well and take it in a positive way."
"It means we're going to be different. We went through the period with Martin [Odegaard] and the period with five, six defenders missing. We're looking at it with positive energy."
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The timing of Saka's injury coincides with one of Arsenal's busiest periods. If he remains out until the end of January, he will miss 10 matches across all competitions.
The first three games fall within eight days around the New Year. Ipswich are due at the Emirates Stadium on December 27, followed by away games against Brentford on New Year's Day and Brighton three days later.
This is then followed by two cup ties: the first leg of Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle on January 7 and an FA Cup third-round match against Manchester United five days after that.
The Gunners will be back in Premier League action soon after, facing off against Tottenham in the second North London Derby of the season on January 15.
Aston Villa are set to visit the Emirates Stadium on the 18th, followed by a Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb, rounding off a run of five consecutive home games. Arteta's men will then finish January with away games against Wolves in the league and Girona in Europe.
They'll be hoping to have Saka back in action by February, when they host reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at home. With Raheem Sterling also sidelined due to injury, Arsenal may need to consider making a move in the transfer market.
They've already navigated a period without captain Odegaard, who was out for two months with an injury earlier this season, but Saka's absence could pose a different kind of challenge.
Every match Saka could potentially miss in December and January: Ipswich (H) - December 27, Brentford (A) - January 1, Brighton (A) - January 4, Newcastle (H) - January 7, Manchester United (H) - January 12, Tottenham (H) - January 15, Aston Villa (H) - January 18, Dinamo Zagreb (H) - January 22, Wolves (A) - January 25, Girona (A) - January 29.
