Arteta admits concern over Saka's durability after latest injury blow
Mikel Arteta has openly questioned whether Bukayo Saka's body can keep up with the physical demands being placed on him, after the forward limped off in Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League with what is feared to be a grade two thigh tear that could rule him out for up to six weeks.
Saka fell to the ground holding his left leg after playing a pass against Bayern and is set for an MRI scan to determine the full extent of the damage. According to The Guardian, Arteta revealed there was significant swelling around the injury site, making it difficult to assess straight away. Saka will definitely miss Saturday's Premier League match against Everton.
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It continues a troubling pattern for the 25 year old, who has now suffered 11 separate injuries since September 2023, including hamstring, hip and achilles tendon problems that kept him out for large spells of last season. Arteta did not shy away from addressing the issue directly when asked if Saka remains robust enough to start every game.
“It's certainly been different in the last year or so,” Arteta said. “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.”
Managing the load
Arteta pointed to last week's Champions League win over Lille as an example of attempts to protect Saka, with the winger left out of the starting line up before coming off the bench to help secure the victory. “We have to play three times in less than six days,” Arteta explained. “So we are preparing the players for those scenarios and we do the best that we possibly can.”
Saka's durability was previously one of his standout qualities. He missed only three Premier League matches across three seasons between 2021 and 2024 and set an Arsenal club record of 83 consecutive top flight appearances. He is closing in on 300 appearances for the club he joined aged seven, and signed a new contract in February that made him one of the highest paid players in Arsenal's history.
Asked whether burnout could be a factor given Saka made his first team debut just months after turning 17, Arteta said he did not believe that was the case but stressed the importance of managing his recovery going forward. “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,” he said.
Dowman set for chance
Saka's absence opens the door for 16 year old Max Dowman to feature against Everton. Dowman, who became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history against the same opponents in March, has played just nine minutes in the league this 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,” said Arteta. “For sure he's going to have minutes.”
Arsenal will await the results of Saka's scan before confirming a timeline for his return, with the club bracing for the possibility of a lengthy absence from one of its most important players.
