UCL: Arteta explains Saka’s injury in Arsenal’s draw with Bayern

Mikel Arteta says the quadriceps injury Arsenal's Bukayo Saka picked up in the 2-2 Champions League draw against Bayern Munich "does not look good at all"

The 25-year-old winger went down in the 10th minute at Allianz Arena - attempting to play a pass with nobody around him - and had to be replaced by Eberechi Eze, who went on to score the opening goal.

"They are a bit concerned. A player who has to come off with a really sharp pain is never good news but we have to wait and see," Arteta told TNT Sports.

Saka has had fitness issues in recent months and his game time was managed at the end of last season, as well as with England at the World Cup, because of an Achilles injury he picked up in March. He missed the March international break and seven games for the Gunners, but returned to help them lift the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.

Saka started the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain but was substituted after 54 minutes, and only started three of England's eight games at the World Cup - scoring a hat-trick in the 6-4 third-place win over France. The forward also had surgery on a hamstring injury he picked up in December 2024, which kept him out for 101 days in the 2024-25 season.

He made 49 appearances as Arsenal won the title last term, despite a stop-start season - as well as the Achilles issue, he pulled out of the warm-up against Leeds with a hip injury in January and a hamstring problem kept him out for about four weeks. But he remains vital to the Gunners, whose win percentage is notably more impressive with him in the team.

Despite the loss of Saka early on in the game, Arsenal still produced a good performance and could have won the match late on after Declan Rice's late equaliser.

After Saka's withdrawal Noni Madueke, who had started on the left wing, switched to the right and looked bright, while Eze scored the opening goal from the left after coming off the bench.