Bukayo Saka's Worrying Quad Injury Puts These Key Matches In Serious Jeopardy

Arsenal are seeking further medical assessments on Bukayo Saka, with the club reportedly fearing their talismanic winger could be sidelined for approximately two months due to a quadriceps injury.

Saka picked up the problem in the opening stages of Wednesday's 2–2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich, which Mikel Arteta described post-match as a "sharp" pain. The England winger was unable to play on, being substituted off just 10 minutes after kickoff.

Arteta addressed the media again on Friday ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Everton this weekend, confirming an MRI scan had been arranged for Saka. "He had a lot of fluid in the area, so it was difficult to understand the severity of the injury. We will know tomorrow.

"We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists, when a player is struggling to walk off the pitch and he's restricted in his movement, they are not good signs."

BBC Sport reported that Arsenal are worried about a layoff lasting at least six weeks, and possibly as long as two months. The more pessimistic timeline could keep Saka out through the Christmas period, while even the optimistic scenario may delay his return until early December.

Nevertheless, Arteta urged patience for now, "so we can give a definitive assessment."

Saka has been hampered by muscular problems in nearly every season of his career, most notably a 99-day spell on the sidelines at a pivotal moment of the 2024–25 campaign. He had been on track to break the Premier League's all-time single-season assist record before being ruled out from late December through to March, as Arsenal ended up finishing as runners-up for the third consecutive year.

The injury has reignited the broader conversation around the excessive workload placed on top-level players. Arsenal participated in 63 of a possible 65 fixtures across all competitions last season and are aiming to match that figure in 2026–27 as they chase an historic quadruple.

"Obviously the demands that we are putting to every player are immense," Arteta acknowledged when discussing the schedule, which encompasses international duty on top of club commitments.

"The amount of games, the intensity of those matches, the international competitions, the times as well between games are getting narrower. So, look at us now, we have to play on Sunday afternoon, then we have to go away, we have to play on Wednesday evening, then we have to play on Saturday. You go less than 66, 67 hours between games."

Which Games Will Bukayo Saka Miss?

A six-week absence would take us through to the beginning of December. In that window, Arsenal have nine fixtures across three competitions. A recovery on that timescale could potentially see Saka return to fitness in the days before the north London derby on Dec. 6. The Gunners face both Liverpool and Manchester City during that stretch, while England also have two fixtures in November.

A lengthier two-month layoff would add the derby and four additional matches to the list of games Saka would miss, including home ties against Real Madrid and Manchester United at the Emirates.

Carabao Cup quarterfinals are set for the week beginning Dec. 14. Arsenal have a Premier League fixture that same week, which may require rescheduling, so it might not necessarily add another game to Saka's absence — provided the Gunners progress past Fleetwood Town in the fourth round the following week.

The packed December calendar, with matches coming every few days, means Saka could miss even more games if he requires additional training time to build fitness and conditioning once he receives medical clearance to return.

Arsenal, England Matches Saka Could Miss

How Do Arsenal Plug Gap on Right Wing?

Despite much discussion about Arsenal's squad depth, the club are not particularly well-stocked when it comes to wide attacking cover.

Two left wingers departed (Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli) over the summer with only one replacement brought in (Christos Tzolis). The club pursued Morgan Rogers and showed interest in Vinícius Júnior and Bradley Barcola, but failed to secure a marquee signing while still allowing Martinelli to leave.

Eberechi Eze came on for Saka in Munich — and even found the net — but is predominantly a No. 10 and was selected because Noni Madueke was already deployed on the opposite flank, filling in for the injured Tzolis.

Tzolis is at least anticipated to return shortly, which eases some of the burden. Both Eze and Madueke have delivered steady contributions since arriving in 2025.

Eze has netted twice in the Champions League this season, but has yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League. He is not regarded as a first-choice starter in Arsenal's best XI. Last season, five of his nine Premier League goal involvements came in just two matches against Tottenham Hotspur, meaning the remaining four were spread across 31 outings. Madueke has contributed three goal involvements in nine appearances so far this season, following 12 in 43 during 2025–26.

Max Dowman is Arteta's remaining option on the right wing, though there is an evident reluctance to place too heavy a burden on the 16-year-old wonderkid at this point in his development.