Saka to miss Everton match as Arsenal await thigh injury assessment
Bukayo Saka will miss Arsenal’s match against Everton after leaving the Bayern Munich game with a thigh injury. Mikel Arteta said fluid around the injury was complicating the assessment, with further imaging planned. Arsenal fear a prolonged absence, while the manager could give Max Dowman an opportunity after a demanding sequence of fixtures.
Sports··Evening
Arsenal rule Saka out against Everton
Bukayo Saka will miss Arsenal’s match against Everton after the thigh injury that forced him off against Bayern Munich. Manager Mikel Arteta said the club was awaiting further medical assessment. Considerable fluid around the affected area had complicated efforts to establish the extent of the damage, and further magnetic resonance imaging was planned.[1]
Arsenal fear Saka could be absent for a prolonged period while his quadriceps injury is assessed. The club’s concern about losing the forward accompanies the pending scan; a return date has yet to be settled.[1], [2]
Arteta sets out the demands of the fixture schedule
Arteta said Saka’s recent robustness had differed from earlier years. He pointed to match intensity, international competitions and shrinking intervals between fixtures as demands on players. Arsenal had to play three times in less than six days, he said, while preparing to win every match. His decision not to include Saka in the starting eleven against Lille reflected the club’s awareness of the player’s condition at that point.[1]
Dowman could gain an opportunity
Saka has previously had hamstring, hip and Achilles tendon problems. Arteta stressed the need to create suitable conditions around him and understand the workload he can sustain on his return. In the nearer term, the absence could give Max Dowman an opportunity against Everton. The manager praised Dowman’s training work and his ability to influence games when selected.[1]
