Arsenal winger, Bukayo, Saka will miss Saturday’s Premier League encounter against Everton as the club awaits further medical examinations to determine the extent of his muscle injury.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that the England international would undergo another magnetic resonance imaging scan following his early withdrawal from the Gunners’ Champions League draw against Bayern Munich.
Saka sustained the injury while attempting a pass and was forced off after just 10 minutes at the Allianz Arena.
Arteta subsequently described the development as “really bad news”, raising concerns about the winger’s fitness.
Speaking after returning to England, Arteta explained that the club needed additional scans and specialist assessments before providing a definitive update on the player’s condition.
“He’s got another MRI this afternoon because he had a lot of fluid.
“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,” Arteta said, according to a statement published on Arsenal’s website on Friday.
The Spaniard admitted that Saka’s difficulty walking after sustaining the injury was worrying but cautioned against reaching conclusions before the medical investigations were completed.
“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,” he said.
Arteta also addressed concerns about the recurring injuries affecting Saka, noting that the problems involved different parts of the body and were not exclusive to the winger.
“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,” he stated.
The Arsenal manager said the club had discussed the issue during the previous season and would continue to monitor the situation as it seeks to manage the fitness of its players.
With Saka unavailable for the Everton fixture, Arsenal could turn to Ebere Eze, who replaced the winger against Bayern Munich and scored to give the Gunners the lead. Teenage forward Max Dowman is another option who could benefit from increased playing time.
Arteta expressed satisfaction with Eze’s contribution against Bayern, praising the midfielder for his response and performance after coming off the bench.
“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,” he said.
The Arsenal manager also backed Dowman to make the most of any opportunity, pointing to the youngster’s ability to influence matches.
The teenager scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Everton in the corresponding fixture last season.
“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,” Arteta said.
Arteta further urged Saka to remain positive during his recovery and continue contributing to the team’s morale despite being sidelined.
“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,” he said.
Arsenal will take on Everton on Saturday without the England international as the club awaits further medical assessments to establish the severity of his injury and the potential length of his absence.
