Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka is expected to spend between six and eight weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a thigh injury during Wednesday night’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
The 25-year-old suffered the injury just 10 minutes into the contest and was helped off the pitch by medical staff.
Saka now faces an extended period of recovery, with Arsenal awaiting further medical assessments to determine the full extent of the damage.
Further Scans Needed to Establish Severity of Injury
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Saka was due to undergo another MRI scan after fluid in the injured area made it difficult to assess the problem.
“He’s got another MRI this afternoon because he had quite a lot of fluid in the area so it was difficult to understand the extent of the injury. We will know more probably tomorrow,” Arteta said.
The manager added that the club would seek further scans and specialist opinions before reaching a clearer conclusion.
He also expressed concern about the circumstances in which Saka left the pitch, noting that the winger was struggling to walk without pain and had restricted movement.
“Obviously when a player has to walk off the pitch, he is struggling to walk without any pain, he’s restricted to movement, they are not good signs,” Arteta said.
Injury Adds to Saka’s Recent Fitness Problems
The latest setback is reportedly Saka’s 11th injury since September 2024.
The England international has also dealt with a prolonged Achilles problem, which he played through during the World Cup.
His latest absence raises further questions about how Arsenal will manage his workload when he returns to action.
Arteta Highlights Demands of Modern Football
Arteta acknowledged that Saka’s fitness situation had changed over the past year, pointing to the increasing physical demands placed on players.
“Well it’s certainly been different in the last year or so and obviously the demands that we are putting to every player are immense,” he said.
The Arsenal manager cited the number of matches, their intensity, international competitions and the limited recovery time between fixtures as factors affecting players.
He also highlighted Arsenal’s upcoming schedule, which includes matches on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday.
According to Arteta, the short intervals between games leave players with fewer than 66 or 67 hours to recover in some cases.
He called on football authorities to provide greater support in addressing the demands placed on players, stressing that the issue affects teams across the sport.
Arsenal to Reassess Saka’s Workload After His Return
Arteta dismissed the suggestion that Saka would necessarily suffer burnout by the time he reaches his 30s.
“I don’t have that feeling at all,” he said.
However, he stressed the importance of creating the right conditions for the winger to maintain his performance and fulfil his potential over the long term.
Arteta said Arsenal would need to carefully assess Saka’s workload when he returns, although the timing of that return remains uncertain pending further medical evaluations.
The club is expected to have a clearer picture of the injury after the additional scans and consultations with specialists.
