Arsenal are bracing for a potential two-month absence for Bukayo Saka after the forward sustained a quadriceps injury during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Although early medical assessments suggest a minimum recovery period of six weeks, the club fears the timeline could extend to eight weeks as they await further clarity. The fact Saka needs follow-up scans and is likely to be out for up to eight weeks is a major blow for Arteta and Arsenal.
The 25-year-old is scheduled for an MRI scan on Friday afternoon to determine the full extent of the damage. Club doctors have struggled to provide an immediate diagnosis due to significant fluid buildup in the affected area, making the recovery outlook uncertain for the moment.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta expressed concern regarding the severity of the situation, noting that the player was struggling to walk comfortably following the match. “We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists,” Arteta said. “When a player has to walk off the pitch, he is struggling to walk without any pain, and is restricted to movement; it is not a good sign. Let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive assessment.
He’s got another MRI as there was quite a lot of fluid in the area so it was quite difficult to understand the extent of the injury. We will know more tomorrow.”
If the medical team’s initial estimates hold, Saka will be unavailable for a critical stretch of fixtures, including England’s upcoming Uefa Nations League clashes against Croatia and Spain. Domestically, his absence begins with Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Everton, where second-placed Arsenal are looking to bridge the three-point gap separating them from table-toppers Manchester City.
Saka’s fitness has become a mounting concern for the club, as he has endured a string of physical setbacks over the last eighteen months. During the 2024-25 campaign, he underwent surgery for a hamstring injury that sidelined him for 101 days. Throughout the previous term, in which he made 49 appearances, he battled through hip and hamstring complaints and an Achilles issue that forced him to miss the March international break and seven club matches. But returned to help them lift the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years, he missed the March international break and seven games for the Gunners.
The player’s history of injuries has led to managed playing time, including his limited usage during last summer’s World Cup, where he started only three of England’s eight matches. Arteta acknowledged that while the forward has maintained a scoring threat—netting four goals in 11 appearances this season—his overall robustness has noticeably shifted over the past year. And only started three of England’s eight games at the World Cup – scoring a hat-trick in the 6-4 third-place win over France, saka started the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain but was substituted after 54 minutes. The Gunners boss had been speaking about how the player had been adapting his positioning to be more of a regular goalscorer for the club in recent weeks and the winger has scored four goals in 11 appearances so far this season.
Arteta’s squad management is under pressure following an unsuccessful summer transfer window where the club failed to land primary forward targets like Vinicius Jr and Julian Alvarez. With new signing Christos Tzolis currently nursing his own injury, the coaching staff is left with limited options on the flank, including Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and 16-year-old academy prospect Max Dowman, whom the manager has praised for his potential.
This latest injury adds to a difficult period for the Arsenal academy product, who previously endured a stop-start season that included a hip problem during January’s lead-up to a match against Leeds. As the team moves forward, the primary focus remains on navigating the immediate schedule without one of their most vital attacking assets.
