Saka to miss Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Everton due to injury

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will miss Saturday’s Premier League match against Everton as the club awaits further medical assessments to determine the severity of his muscle injury

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that the England international would undergo another magnetic resonance imaging scan after sustaining the injury during the Gunners’ Champions League draw against Bayern Munich.

Saka was forced off after 10 minutes at the Allianz Arena after picking up the injury while playing a pass. Arteta had described the development as “really bad news” after the match.

Providing an update after returning to England, the Arsenal manager said further scans and consultations with specialists were needed before the club could establish the extent of the injury.

“He’s got another MRI this afternoon because he had a lot of fluid. We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists. Let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive answer,” Arteta said, according to a statement published on Arsenal’s website on Friday.

Arteta said the circumstances surrounding Saka’s withdrawal were concerning but urged caution before drawing conclusions about the injury.

“Obviously when a player has to walk off the pitch, he’s struggling to walk without any pain, he’s restricted to movement, they are not good signs. So again, let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive assessment and then let you know,” he said.

Asked whether recurring injuries were beginning to affect Saka’s playing style, Arteta said the issue involved different types of injuries and was not limited to the winger.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. It’s been muscles, it’s been tendons as well which is something else. That’s not just with Bukayo, with many other players as well,” he stated.

He added that the club had discussed the issue the previous season and would continue to monitor the situation. With Saka sidelined, Arsenal will consider their options for the Everton fixture and subsequent matches.

Ebere Eze replaced the winger against Bayern Munich and scored to put Arsenal ahead, while teenage forward Max Dowman could also receive more playing time. Arteta praised Eze’s response and the impact he made after coming on.

“I’m extremely happy with how Ebz reacted to the previous game and the impact that he had on the team and the performance that he put in,” he said.

The Arsenal manager also backed Dowman to make an impact when given opportunities, recalling the teenager’s goal in the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Everton in the corresponding fixture last 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, so for sure he’s going to have minutes,” Arteta said.

Arteta also urged Saka to maintain a positive attitude during his recovery and help keep the squad motivated.

“I already told him to go to the [training ground] and be the first one there with a good spirit and energy because that’s what the team needs,” he said.

Arsenal will face Everton on Saturday as they seek to maintain their momentum while awaiting further clarity on Saka’s condition.