Arsenal Await Bukayo Saka Scan Results After Injury Scare Against Bayern Munich

Arsenal have been handed a significant injury concern ahead of their meeting with Everton this Saturday after Bukayo Saka was forced off just ten minutes into their 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich. The England international started the Champions League encounter at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night but was unable to continue after appearing to suffer a problem with his left leg.

According to the London Standard, Saka was due to undergo a scan on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury, with the club awaiting more information on the situation before revealing a timeline on when Saka could return.

The 25-year-old had started relatively well against Bayern. He showed great glimpses of his raw strength and was beating his man with ease. He managed to get away from Alphonso Davies and played a ball out wide. However, shortly after releasing the ball, he went to ground clutching his left leg and immediately signalled towards the bench. Saka was replaced by Eberechi Eze, who went on to open the scoring for the Gunners and delivered one of his better performances, but Saka coming off early will worry Mikel Arteta.

An encouraging sign was at the end of the game, when Saka was seen leaving the stadium without crutches, which could indicate the injury might not be as serious as first feared.

Saka’s fitness is particularly important given Arsenal’s demanding schedule, with the club competing across several competitions over the coming weeks. The Gunners are scheduled to host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday before travelling to face Liverpool on the first weekend in November, with further domestic and European fixtures also approaching.

Saka is considered a major doubt for the Everton match, and Arteta is expected to provide a further update during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

Arsenal could still also be without summer signing Christos Tzolis, who has missed the last four matches with a hamstring injury sustained during international duty. His absence would cause more issues for Arteta’s selection and could open the door for 16-year-old Max Dowman.

Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are the only two senior wide options now available, but Dowman could still be a useful alternative. The teenager scored a brace in Arsenal’s 4-2 victory over Ipswich in the third round of the Carabao Cup in September. Both Madueke and Eze have proven over the last couple of weeks that they can contribute effectively for Arsenal.

Despite having options within the squad, losing Saka for any significant period would be a huge setback for the club. The winger remains one of Arsenal’s most important attacking players, even though he has had a difficult start to the new season.

Arsenal fans will be hoping Thursday’s scan provides encouraging news and that Saka’s withdrawal proves to be a precautionary measure rather than the beginning of another extended spell on the sidelines.

Regardless, it is extremely unlikely that Saka features in any capacity in Arsenal’s Premier League fixture against Everton on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.