Bukayo Saka Set to Miss Up to Eight Weeks With Thigh Injury
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is reportedly facing six to eight weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a thigh injury during the club’s UEFA Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.
The 25-year-old England international picked up the injury just 10 minutes into Wednesday night’s encounter, raising concerns over his availability for Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures.
The setback marks Saka’s 11th injury since September 2024. He had also reportedly been playing through a prolonged Achilles problem during the World Cup.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that further medical examinations were needed to determine the severity of the winger’s injury.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League fixture against Everton, Arteta said Saka underwent an MRI scan after significant fluid developed around the affected area, making it difficult to assess the extent of the damage.
“He’s got an 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. But we’ll know more probably tomorrow,” Arteta said.
He added that the club would need additional scans and specialist opinions before making a definitive assessment.
“We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialist. There are no good signs. So, again, let’s be very patient so we can give a definitive assessment,” the Arsenal boss stated.
Arteta also addressed concerns over the increasing number of injuries affecting his squad, pointing to the demanding football calendar and limited recovery time between matches.
According to the manager, the volume of games, their intensity and the demands of international competitions have placed considerable pressure on players.
He cited Arsenal’s congested schedule, which saw the team play on Sunday, Wednesday and face another match on Saturday, leaving them with fewer than 67 hours between fixtures.
“The demands that we are putting on every player are immense, the amount of games, the intensity of those matches, the international competitions, the times as well between games are getting narrower,” Arteta said.
The Spaniard also dismissed the suggestion that he feared Saka was approaching burnout, although he acknowledged the need to carefully manage the winger’s workload when he returns.
“I don’t have that feeling at all, but certainly what we have to be very mindful of is to create the right ecosystem around the player to fulfil all his qualities,” he said.
Arteta added that Arsenal would need to reassess how best to manage Saka’s playing time and physical demands when he is fit to return.
The potential absence of the England star would be a significant setback for Arsenal, given his importance to the team’s attacking play. However, the club is expected to provide a clearer update on his condition after further medical assessments.
