Arteta admits concern over Saka durability amid possible six week absence

Bukayo Saka crumpled to the turf clutching his left leg after playing a pass against Bayern Munich, and the fallout from that moment has left Mikel Arteta openly questioning whether his forward can continue to be used at the intensity Arsenal have relied on for the past three years.

Saka will definitely miss Saturday's visit of Everton, and the Guardian reports that Arsenal fear the injury could be a grade two tear that potentially keeps him out for up to six weeks. He is set for an MRI scan to determine the full extent of the problem, with Arteta revealing there was significant swelling that made an immediate diagnosis difficult. 'He had quite a lot of fluid in the area so it was difficult to understand the extent of the injury,' Arteta said.

The latest setback comes after a wretched run for the 25 year old, who has suffered 11 separate injuries since September 2023, including hamstring, hip and achilles tendon problems that wiped out large chunks of last season. Asked directly whether Saka remains robust enough to start every match, Arteta did not dodge the question. 'It's certainly been different in the last year or so,' he said, pointing to the unforgiving modern schedule. '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.'

A deliberate change in approach

Arteta revealed that Saka's substitute appearance against Lille in the Champions League last week was a conscious decision rather than a selection call based on form. 'Bukayo against Lille didn't start the game because we knew what was happening,' he explained. 'We have to play three times in less than six days... So we are preparing the players for those scenarios and we do the best that we possibly can.'

The numbers underline just how much has changed. Saka missed only three Premier League matches across three seasons between 2021 and 2024 and set an Arsenal club record with 83 consecutive top flight appearances. He is closing in on 300 appearances for a club he joined at seven years old, and was handed a lucrative new contract in February that made him one of the best paid players in Arsenal's history.

Asked whether burnout was a concern given Saka made his first team debut just three months after turning 17, Arteta said he was not worried about that specifically, but stressed the need for careful management going forward. 'Something we have to be very mindful of is to create the right ecosystem around the player to fulfil his qualities,' he said. 'We really need to understand, whenever he comes back, how we are going to manage his load, what he is capable of to sustain having an impact in the team.'

Dowman set for opportunity

Saka's absence opens the door for 16 year old Max Dowman against Everton. Dowman has played just nine minutes in the league this season but became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history against the same opponent back in March. '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,' Arteta said. 'For sure he's going to have minutes.'

Arsenal will await the results of Saka's scan before any firm return timeline is confirmed, with the club bracing for a potentially lengthy spell without one of their most important players.