Arsenal sweat on Bukayo Saka injury as Arteta admits concern
Arsenal are waiting anxiously on the fitness of Bukayo Saka after the winger suffered a quadriceps injury in the 10th minute of their Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. Manager Mikel Arteta revealed his medical staff are concerned and that the problem doesn't look good.
- Match: Bayern Munich vs Arsenal (Champions League)
- Injury: Saka withdrawn after 10 minutes with quadriceps issue
- Impact: Arsenal already without summer signing Christos Tzolis (thigh)
- Next fixture: Arsenal vs Everton (Premier League, Saturday)
- Key stat: Arsenal win 64.2% of PL games Saka starts vs 53.3% without
Injury and availability
Bukayo Saka: Suffered a quadriceps injury in the 10th minute against Bayern Munich. Arteta said medical staff are concerned and it doesn't look good at all. The winger was pictured limping as he left the Allianz Arena.
Christos Tzolis: The summer signing is already absent with a thigh issue and was said to be weeks away from returning last week.
Max Dowman: Suffered a minor injury with England's U19s but is considered a full-time member of the first-team squad.
What was said
"It doesn't look good at all."
"When you talk about players being 'clinical', sometimes that means scoring five in every 100. It's about generating volume, more actions and getting him into the good positions, because he will decide matches."
"I thought Ebs had a great game, not just the goal but his actions, overall performance and without the ball as well."
"Max will have his chance. He will have his minutes and he will have to earn them like anybody else."
Arteta's comments on Saka were notably downbeat, suggesting Arsenal are bracing for a significant absence. His praise for Madueke's volume and Eze's all-round game hints at how he plans to cope, while his promise to Dowman could signal a breakthrough for the 16-year-old.
The numbers
- 64.2% – Arsenal's win rate in Premier League games Saka has started since 2020/21
- 53.3% – Arsenal's win rate in Premier League games Saka hasn't started in that period
- 76% – Arsenal's win rate in Saka's Premier League starts last season
- 53.8% – Arsenal's win rate in Premier League games Saka didn't start last season
- 3 – Saka's Premier League goals this season (Arsenal's top scorer)
- 1st – Saka ranks top among Arsenal players for shots, touches in the opposition box, and expected goals
- 1st – Saka ranks top among Arsenal players for tackles
- 14 – Unsuccessful crosses by Madueke against Lille before his assist
- 9 – Premier League minutes played by Dowman this season
How will Arsenal cope without Saka?
Saka's importance to Arsenal is underlined by the statistics. Since becoming a regular starter in 2020/21, the Gunners have won 64.2% of Premier League games he has started compared to 53.3% without him. Last season, the difference was even more pronounced: 76% win rate with Saka starting versus 53.8% without.
The winger is Arsenal's leading scorer in the Premier League this season with three goals and ranks top among his team-mates for shots, touches in the opposition box, and expected goals. The underlying data suggests he is more of a goal threat than ever. Gradient Sports' grading system has Saka as the Premier League's best-performing player in terms of execution this season, above Elliot Anderson. He even ranks top among Arsenal players for tackles, showing his value off the ball.
With Saka likely sidelined, Arteta must find solutions. Noni Madueke, naturally a right winger, switched to the right against Bayern after Eberechi Eze came on for Saka. Madueke impressed from the left in place of Tzolis in wins over Leeds and Nottingham Forest, scoring the winner from the bench in the latter. Against Bayern, he played an important role in Declan Rice's equaliser with an incisive first-time pass to Viktor Gyokeres.
Madueke offers more explosive pace and directness than Saka but is far less reliable technically and has frustrated Arsenal supporters with his erratic end-product. Against Lille, he made 14 unsuccessful crosses before assisting Jurrien Timber's opener, whereas Saka set up Eze's second goal with his first touch after coming off the bench. There is a gulf in decision-making, but Arteta values Madueke's volume of offensive actions.
Eze is also capable of playing on the right, but his only Premier League minutes under Arteta on that side have come as a right-sided No 8 rather than a right winger. He may now be needed on the left, where he earned plaudits from his manager against Bayern.
With Tzolis unavailable, Arsenal's only other natural wide option against Bayern was Max Dowman. The 16-year-old became Arsenal's youngest starter against Brighton in the Carabao Cup aged 15 years and 302 days old last October, and the Premier League's youngest scorer with his breakaway goal against Everton aged 16 years and 73 days old in March. He scored twice against Ipswich in the Carabao Cup in September, joining Wayne Rooney as one of only two players aged 16 to score twice in a game for a Premier League side.
Dowman's display at Portman Road increased calls for more Premier League chances, but Arteta has been cautious. Dowman, who suffered a minor injury with England's U19s, has only played nine Premier League minutes. Arteta vowed last month: "Max will have his chance. He will have his minutes and he will have to earn them like anybody else." Everton, Arsenal's visitors on Saturday, have first-hand experience of Dowman's danger. Arsenal's upcoming Carabao Cup and Champions League games against Fleetwood Town and Slavia Prague might present chances too.
Why Arteta may turn to Madueke and Dowman
Noni Madueke is the most direct replacement for Saka on the right. His pace and willingness to take on defenders align with Arteta's desire for volume in the final third. However, his erratic delivery and decision-making remain a concern. Against Bayern, he showed glimpses of his potential with the assist for Rice's goal, but consistency is key.
Eberechi Eze has impressed on the left, and shifting him to the right would weaken the left side. Arteta may prefer to keep Eze on the left and use Madueke on the right, or deploy a right-sided No 8 to compensate.
Max Dowman is the wildcard. His talent is undeniable, but at 16, Arteta has been cautious. With Saka out, Dowman may get more minutes, especially in cup competitions. His two-goal display against Ipswich showed he can handle senior football, but Premier League intensity is another level.
Arteta's biggest challenge will be maintaining Arsenal's attacking threat without their most influential player. The numbers show a clear drop-off without Saka, and the manager must find a way to replicate his output collectively.
Talking points
- Should Arteta start Dowman against Everton, or is it too soon for the 16-year-old to handle a Premier League start?
- Is Madueke's end product reliable enough to fill Saka's boots, or will Arsenal's attack stall without their main man?
- With Tzolis also out, Arsenal's lack of summer signings up front looks increasingly costly – should they have pushed harder for Vinicius Jr or Alvarez?
- Can Eze's creativity from the left compensate for Saka's absence, or does Arteta need to adjust his system entirely?
What happens next
Arsenal host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, with Saka almost certainly unavailable. The Gunners then face Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup and Slavia Prague in the Champions League, where Dowman may get his chance. Arteta will provide a further update on Saka's fitness in his pre-match press conference on Friday. How Arsenal cope without their star man could define their season.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bukayo Saka injured?
Yes, Saka suffered a quadriceps injury in the 10th minute against Bayern Munich and was withdrawn. Mikel Arteta said the problem doesn't look good.
How long will Bukayo Saka be out for?
Arsenal have not confirmed a timescale, but Arteta admitted his medical staff are concerned and it doesn't look good at all.
Who will replace Bukayo Saka in the Arsenal lineup?
Noni Madueke is the most likely replacement on the right, but Max Dowman could also get more minutes. Eberechi Eze may stay on the left.
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