Bukayo Saka injury concerns deepen as Arsenal confirm he will miss Everton clash while Mikel Arteta awaits further scan results.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash against Everton as the club awaits further medical assessments to determine the severity of his muscle injury, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed.

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The England international sustained the injury during Arsenal’s Champions League draw against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, forcing him off after just 10 minutes.

Arteta described the setback as “really bad news” immediately after the match.

Speaking on Friday, the Arsenal manager said Saka would undergo another magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, with further examinations and specialist opinions required before the club could provide a definitive diagnosis.

“He’s got another MRI this afternoon because he had a lot of fluid,” Arteta said in comments published on Arsenal’s official website.

“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 admitted that Saka’s difficulty walking after sustaining the injury was concerning, although he cautioned against drawing conclusions before the medical assessments were complete.

“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,” he said.

The manager reiterated that Arsenal needed a clearer medical picture before confirming the likely recovery period.

Saka’s latest setback has raised questions about the winger’s fitness, but Arteta said the club was dealing with different types of injuries affecting players across the squad.

Asked whether recurring problems could influence Saka’s playing style, the Arsenal manager said it was too early to speculate about the long-term implications.

“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 said.

Arteta added that the club had discussed the issue during the previous season and would continue to monitor the situation.

For now, Arsenal must prepare for Everton without one of their key attacking players, while waiting to learn whether the injury will affect Saka’s availability beyond Saturday.

With Saka unavailable, Arsenal will consider alternative attacking options for the Everton fixture and subsequent matches.

Ebere Eze replaced the winger against Bayern Munich and scored to put Arsenal ahead. Arteta praised the midfielder’s response and his contribution after entering the game.

“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,” the manager said.

Teenage forward Max Dowman could also receive additional playing time as Arsenal adjust their attacking plans.

Arteta backed the youngster to make an impact when given opportunities, pointing to his performances in training and his ability to influence matches.

“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.

Dowman previously scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Everton in the corresponding fixture last season, giving the teenager another opportunity to feature against the same opponents.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his recovery, Arteta wants Saka to remain involved with the team and help maintain morale while he is sidelined.

The Arsenal manager said he had encouraged the winger to bring positive energy to the training ground, even as he focuses on his rehabilitation.

“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,” Arteta said.

Arsenal will host Everton on Saturday as they continue their Premier League campaign alongside their European commitments.

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The club’s immediate priority is to secure a clearer diagnosis for Saka, with his expected recovery time still uncertain pending further medical assessments.