Arteta fears for Saka's durability as forward faces potential six-week layoff

Mikel Arteta has sounded the alarm over Bukayo Saka's durability. The Arsenal winger limped off during the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, which ended 2-2, and early assessments point to a possible grade-two tear in his thigh. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the England international could be sidelined for around six weeks.

• Saka is set for an MRI scan to determine the exact extent of the thigh injury.
• Arsenal fear a grade-two tear, which would mean up to six weeks on the sidelines.
• It is the player's eleventh injury since September 2023.
• Max Dowman, aged 16, could feature against Everton on Saturday.
• Arteta admits the club must rethink how it manages Saka's workload.

What injury has Bukayo Saka suffered and how long will he be out for?

The London-born attacker pulled up in clear discomfort during the European tie against Bayern, and Arteta confirmed there was considerable fluid in the affected area. That made it extremely difficult to assess the severity of the problem straight away. The scheduled MRI scan will provide definitive answers, but there is now a real fear inside the club that the damage is a grade-two muscle tear.

That scenario would keep Saka out for a month and a half, a significant blow to Arteta's project at the business end of the season. His absence from the upcoming Premier League fixture against Everton is already completely ruled out.

Arteta and the management of Saka's physical load

The Spanish coach made no secret of his concern when discussing the muscle fragility that has followed his player over the past year. Saka has suffered eleven different injuries since September 2023, including problems with his hamstrings, hip and Achilles tendon. That sequence stands in stark contrast to the reliability he showed between 2021 and 2024, when he missed only three league matches and played 83 consecutive top-flight games.

It's certainly been different in the last year or so. The demands that we are putting on every player are immense. The amount of games, the intensity of those matches, the international competitions, and the times between games are getting narrower.

Arteta pointed out that Saka did not even start against Lille in the previous European round precisely because the coaching staff had already detected signs of overload. The schedule had forced the team to play three times in under six days, with matches decided in the closing minutes and an absolute need to win.

Max Dowman, the alternative for the Everton match

Saka's injury opens a window for other names to shine. The leading candidate to seize the chance is Max Dowman, one of the brightest prospects in the Gunners' academy. At just 16, Dowman has already played nine minutes in the Premier League this season and became the youngest goalscorer in the competition's history in March, ironically against David Moyes' Everton.

Arteta did not hide the symbolism of that coincidence. The memory of that goal and the atmosphere it generated remain in the stadium, and the coach is convinced the teenager is ready to contribute again. His performances in training and his fearlessness every time he steps onto the pitch suggest he will get minutes against the Toffees.

Saka's medical record and his lucrative contract

Saka's medical situation contrasts with the status the club granted him in February, when he signed a lucrative contract that placed him among the highest earners in Arsenal's history. Approaching 300 appearances for the club he joined at the age of seven, the winger is a structural piece of the project.

He made his first-team debut three months after turning 17 and his rise has been meteoric. However, Arteta stressed that he is not worried about premature burnout, but rather about building the right ecosystem around the player so he can fulfil his qualities without putting his health at risk.

Frequently asked questions about Saka's injury