LONDON (AP) — Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is expected to be out for “many weeks” with a hamstring injury, manager Mikel Arteta said Monday.
Saka limped off during the first half of Arsenal's 5-1 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday and was pictured leaving the stadium on crutches after the match.
“It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks,” Arteta told a news conference ahead of Thursday's home game against Ipswich. “I cannot be too specific because I don’t know, but it will be many weeks.”
Arsenal is third in the Premier League heading into the busy Christmas schedule, with a home game against Manchester United in the FA Cup and the League Cup semifinals against Newcastle also on the horizon in January.
Making matters worse for Arsenal is that fellow right winger Raheem Sterling will also be out for “weeks” with a knee injury, Arteta said.
“(Sterling) needs some further testing tomorrow to understand the extent of the injury,” Arteta said. “It’s his knee and we have to wait another 24 hours, but unfortunately he’s going to be out for a while.”
The 23-year-old Saka has been Arsenal's main attacking threat this season and has been directly involved in 15 of the team's 34 Premier League goals, scoring five and adding 10 assists.
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Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, left, kicks the ball ahead of Everton's Vitaliy Mykolenko during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium in London, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Hockey player Matt Petgrave has called the death of Adam Johnson “a tragic accident” in a public appeal for donations to his legal costs amid a police investigation.
Johnson, who had briefly played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, died after his neck was cut by Petgrave's skate in a collision between the two opponents in a game in Sheffield, England, over a year ago.
Petgrave has raised nearly 10,000 pounds ($12,500) after recently launching a drive on a UK-based crowdfunding site.
A man, whose name has not been released by police, remains under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. South Yorkshire Police have re-bailed the man several times, most recently in early November. No criminal charges have been filed.
“On October 28, 2023, I was involved in a tragic accident that resulted in the passing of fellow ice hockey player Adam Johnson,” Petgrave, who was a defenseman for the Sheffield Steelers, said in a statement on CrowdJustice.
“There is an ongoing police investigation and the legal process has been long and challenging," the 32-year-old Canadian's statement added.
“I am seeking help to cover some of my legal costs whilst I am subject to police bail, as well as additional costs if the matter proceeds to criminal court. Any remaining funds will be donated to initiatives that promote safety in hockey, via a CrowdJustice campaign in-line with their unused funds policy.”
CrowdJustice said it conducts “rigorous checks" before drives can be launched. All funds raised go directly to a designated lawyer's account for that client.
It said: “We can confirm these checks have been completed for the Matthew Petgrave campaign. Raised funds will be sent directly to the instructed lawyers.”
Petgrave's page lists Manchester law firm Burton Copeland, which did not respond to an email and phone call for more information.
Johnson, who was a 29-year-old forward with the Nottingham Panthers, was skating with the puck into Sheffield’s defensive zone. As he pivoted to move inside, Petgrave was skating toward him. Petgrave had another Panthers player in front of him and appears to have made contact. Then, Petgrave’s left skate elevated as the defenseman began to fall and the blade hit Johnson in the neck.
“Initially, I had the benefit of insurance cover, but through no fault of my own, this has been halted,” Petgrave’s statement said. “Additionally, the time and costs involved in the legal investigation and potential court proceedings are difficult for me to cover on a privately funded basis. This is especially challenging because my UK visa has expired, preventing me from working as a professional ice hockey player while I continue to need legal assistance.”
Johnson was living with fiancee Ryan Wolfe and studying at Loughborough Business School.
The UK's Elite Ice Hockey League made neck guards mandatory last Jan. 1, two months after Johnson’s death.
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FILE - Flower tributes for Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson rest outside the Motorpoint Arena before a memorial ice hockey game between Nottingham Panthers and Manchester Storm in Nottingham, England, Nov. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)