Declan Rice has called on Arsenal to "adapt" their game without Bukayo Saka after the forward was ruled out until March with a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old England international was substituted in the first half of the Gunners' 5-1 win at Crystal Palace last weekend after suffering a hamstring injury. And on Friday night, Mikel Arteta confirmed the forward had undergone surgery on the issue and now faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Speaking to the press after Friday's 1-0 win over Ipswich Town, Arteta said: "He had a procedure. Everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks.

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"I said many weeks, so I think it will be 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, the mobility of that. Let's see, it's very difficult to say."

Saka has started 108 of possible 114 Premier League games for the Gunners over the last three full seasons and, prior to sustaining injury last week, had started 16 of Arsenal's 17 games in the league this campaign. Rice, though, has called on his team-mates to adapt to life without Saka as the Gunners look to stay hot on the heels of Premier League leaders Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

Speaking to Amazon Prime after Friday's win, Rice said: "He come off early in the game the other day. Tonight was different out there without him. We are going to have to adapt, for sure."

Victory over Ipswich Town lifted the Gunners up to second in the Premier League table, six points behind Liverpool.