Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta admitted he was “pretty worried” over an injury suffered by star winger Bukayo Saka in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Saka, who was forced off midway through the first half, was seen on crutches leaving Selhurst Park after a game which saw the Gunners move to within three points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

“He (Saka) felt something in his hamstring,” Arteta said.

“He couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed, so I’m pretty worried about that one.

“It’s very difficult to give a prognosis now. They have tested him inside but it’s very difficult to say how bad it is.”

He added: “Unfortunately with the amount of games that we are playing, every three days with this schedule, it doesn’t surprise me, but the team will react to that.”

Arsenal next face struggling Ipswich on Friday, Brentford on New Year’s Day and Brighton just three days later in the holiday fixture programme.

Ahmed Musa netted the winning goal as Kano Pillars recorded a 2-1 victory over Niger Tornadoes at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday.

Kano Pillars took the lead through Rashid Alhassan at the half-hour mark.

Niger Tornadoes fought back, with Mohammed Goyi equalising at the hour mark.

Musa found the target deep into stoppage time to win the game for Pillars.

Peter Awosanmi was on target as Sunshine Stars narrowly defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

In Benin City, Bendel Insurance also recorded a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars, with Isaac Annor scoring the decisive strike in the 83rd minute.

Manchester City’s crisis snowballed as they slipped to another devastating defeat at Aston Villa.

Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers goals meant Phil Foden’s late reply for the visitors was little consolation.

Defending champions City have dropped to sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Liverpool having played two games more, while Villa have moved above them into fifth.

It is now nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions for City, who are winless in their last eight away matches, as their season continues to spiral downwards.

Guardiola made six changes from the Manchester derby defeat last week but it made little difference during another laboured performance.

Villa, who had won just three of their previous 11 top-flight games, earned a much-needed victory, one which keeps their top-four hopes firmly alive.

They were rarely troubled, although Emi Martinez saved well from Foden in the first half, and Villa continually found ways past City’s frail backline.

The tone was set inside the first minute as City needed Stefan Ortega, in for the injured Ederson, to twice bail them out.

He brilliantly turned Pau Torres’ header on to the bar, the goalkeeper clawing the ball out from almost over the line, having already saved from Duran following Josko Gvardiol’s mistake after just 15 seconds.

Worse was to come after 16 minutes when City were sliced open by Youri Tielemans’ brilliant through-ball. He found Rogers to advance and unselfishly square for Duran to beat Ortega.

City were unable to respond until it was too late and Rogers, who spent two years at Etihad Stadium without making a senior City appearance, sealed victory for Villa with a fine low finish after 65 minutes, making Foden’s injury-time strike meaningless.

BBC