Injury in Munich

Bukayo Saka, 25, was taken off during Arsenal's 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich on 21 October. According to the New York Times, he went down after about 10 minutes, clutching his left thigh after playing a pass from the right side, and was replaced by Eberechi Eze. Arteta described the problem as a quad issue and said it had come with a sharp pain. Saka will definitely miss the Premier League home match against Everton on 24 October. The club is still trying to establish how serious the problem is.

Scans and prognosis

Saka was booked for a second MRI scan on the afternoon of 23 October, because fluid around the muscle made the extent of the injury hard to judge. Arteta said the club would probably know more the following day, 24 October, and asked for patience while specialists were consulted.

“We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists.”

He added that the club wanted to give a definitive assessment before taking any further decisions. The Guardian reported that Arsenal fear a grade-two tear that could keep Saka out for up to six weeks. BBC reporting puts the possible absence at up to eight weeks, with the club's medics estimating a minimum of six weeks and possibly longer.

Arteta on workload

Arteta acknowledged that Saka's robustness has been tested over the past year, and he pointed to the wider schedule. Saka has had 11 different injuries since September 2023, and he missed a large part of last season with hamstring, hip and Achilles problems. Saka had started 11 of Arsenal's 12 games this season before the injury, with four goals and one assist.

“The demands that we are putting on every player are immense.”

Arteta said Arsenal have to play three times in less than six days, which is why Saka did not start against Lille in the Champions League last week. He dismissed concerns about burnout, saying he does not have that feeling at all, but he said the club must create the right environment around the player.

Options without Saka

Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are expected to be given the chance to start against Everton, with Christos Tzolis also sidelined by a hamstring injury. Madueke scored Arsenal's winner at Nottingham Forest and has played more than 2,000 minutes as a right-sided midfielder since joining the club. Max Dowman, who became the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer in March at 16 years and 73 days, is also an option, although a 16-year-old playing straight into league and European action carries risks. James Scanlon, a summer signing from Manchester United, may also be included in the matchday squad for the first time, according to the Evening Standard.

What comes next

Arsenal play five times before the November international break, with trips to Liverpool and Fleetwood Town and a home match against Slavia Prague and Hull still ahead. Arsenal are second in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Manchester City. The outcome of the 23 October scan will determine how long Saka is absent for the games that follow.