Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is reportedly set to miss
six to eight weeks with a thigh injury.
The 25-year-old England international picked up the
knock just ten minutes into Arsenal's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich
on Wednesday night. It is his 11th injury since September 2024, and he also
played through a prolonged Achilles problem during the World Cup.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal's game against Everton,
manager Mikel Arteta said Saka was due to have an MRI scan that afternoon
because there was a lot of fluid in the area, which made it hard to judge the
extent of the injury. "We need a few more scans and opinions from the
specialist. There are no good signs," he said, urging patience until a
definitive assessment can be given. He expected to know more the next day.
Asked whether Saka is picking up too many injuries,
Arteta said the situation has been different over the past year or so. He
pointed to the immense demands on players, including the number of games, the
intensity of matches, international competitions and ever-shorter gaps between
fixtures. Arsenal played on Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening, and play
again on Saturday, giving them less than 66 or 67 hours between some games.
Arteta was also asked whether he fears Saka faces
burnout. He said he does not have that feeling at all, but stressed the need to
create the right ecosystem around the player so he can fulfil his qualities.
When Saka returns, whenever that is, the club will have to work out how to
manage his load again.
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