Arteta Fears Saka Injury After Arsenal’s Champions League Draw With Bayern

Arteta Fears Saka Injury After Arsenal’s Champions League Draw With Bayern Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed concern over Bukayo Saka’s injury after the England international was forced off early in the Gunners’ 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Saka suffered a suspected quadriceps injury in the 10th minute of the encounter at the Allianz Arena and was replaced by Eberechi Eze. The winger went down while attempting to play a pass, clutching his thigh despite having no apparent contact with an opponent. He subsequently limped off the pitch, raising concerns over the severity of the injury. Arteta admitted that the early signs were worrying but said the club would need to conduct further assessments before determining the extent of the damage. “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,” the Arsenal manager said. He added: “It doesn’t look good at all, but we’ll have to wait and see.” Despite losing one of their key attacking players early in the game, Arsenal took the lead through substitute Eze in the 25th minute, following an assist from Martin odegaard. Bayern responded through Alphonso Davies, who finished a move initiated by Harry Kane, to restore parity before the German side took the lead in the second half. Kane converted a penalty after Jurrien Timber handled the ball inside the box, putting Bayern ahead and leaving Arsenal facing the prospect of defeat. However, Declan Rice rescued a point for the visitors with an 82nd-minute equaliser after a move involving Viktor Gyökeres. The draw reflected Arsenal’s resilience in a difficult away fixture, although Saka’s injury overshadowed the result. Arteta also pointed to the physical demands of elite European football when discussing the injury, highlighting the intensity and sustained pressure players face during high-level matches. He described the pace and physical demands of the contest as exceptionally high, noting that players are required to maintain concentration and intensity throughout the game. Saka’s latest setback is a concern for Arsenal, given his importance to the team’s attack and his previous fitness problems. The 25-year-old has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, including an Achilles problem and a hamstring injury that previously kept him out of action for an extended period. Arsenal will await further medical assessments to establish the severity of the latest injury and determine when the winger could return to action.