Saka injury has left Arsenal waiting anxiously for answers. Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka will miss Saturday’s game against Everton, and the club still does not know how serious the problem is.
The winger was hurt in the Champions League draw at Bayern Munich. Arteta says the medical team need more time before they can give a definitive diagnosis.
How the Injury Happened in Munich
Saka lasted only 10 minutes at the Allianz Arena. He suffered a muscle problem while playing a pass and had to leave the pitch.
After the match, Arteta described the situation as “really bad news.” Back in England, he has now given a fuller picture.
Arteta Calls for Patience on the Saka Injury
Saka needs further assessment, and the manager made clear that nothing is settled yet. A second MRI was scheduled for the afternoon of his update.
“He’s got another MRI this afternoon because he had a lot of fluid,” Arteta said. “We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists. Let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive answer.”
He then explained why the early signs are a concern.
“We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialist. Obviously when a player has to walk off the pitch, he’s struggling to walk without any pain, he’s restricted to movement, they are not good signs. So again, let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive assessment and then let you know.”
Concerns Over Muscles and Tendons
Arteta was also asked whether repeated injuries are starting to change how Saka plays. He did not offer a firm answer, but he did acknowledge a wider pattern.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. It’s been muscles, it’s been tendons as well which is something else. That’s not just with Bukayo, with many other players as well. We discussed that last year and that’s why we need to keep an eye on him.”
A Leader’s Role While He Recovers
Arteta does not want Saka to disappear from the group while he recovers. He sees him as one of the squad’s leaders and wants him to use that influence.
The manager has asked him to be first through the door at the training ground, with a positive attitude. His reasoning is simple: the dressing room does not need a constant round of worried questions.
“I already told him to go to the [training ground] and be the first one there with a good spirit and energy because that’s what the team needs. If everybody’s like: ‘Bukayo, how are you? Are you sick? Are you OK?’, that’s exactly what we don’t need.”
Arteta added that setbacks come with the job.
“If this is what it is, this is part of our job, to have some nice and bad results, a defeat or a problem, we need to deal with that. We cannot change that now. What we certainly can do is dominate the narrative from here to the Everton game together, with the best energy and the spirit to go and win the game.”
Who Can Replace Saka?
Attention now turns to who steps into the gap. Ebere Eze came on for Saka against Bayern and made an immediate impact. He scored a fine goal to put Arsenal ahead.
Max Dowman could also see more action. He scored his first goal for the club in the 2-0 win over Everton in the same fixture last season, a moment Arteta says will stay with the stadium for a long time.
Arteta Backs His Options
The manager said every member of the squad matters, and he praised Eze’s reaction and performance.
“They’re all important; we know that. I’m extremely happy with how Ebz reacted to the previous game and the impact that he had on the team and the performance that he put in.”
On Dowman, he promised opportunities.
“[Max] is something inevitable, to go back to that memory and the feeling of the moment and that’s with us and that’s going to stay in the stadium for a long, long time I think. He’s training, and every time he’s got a moment to play, he’s showing that he’s a player that is going to impact the game, so for sure he’s going to have minutes.”
What Happens Next
The immediate picture is clear: Saka is out of the Everton game. Beyond that, the length of his absence depends on the results of his scans and the specialists’ opinions.
Until then, Arsenal must prepare for Everton without one of their key attackers, with Eze and Dowman among the options to fill the space.