FC Bayern München v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 - Source: Getty
FC Bayern München v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 - Source: Getty
Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for Saturday's (October 24) Premier League meeting with Everton, and the club is still waiting to learn how long the winger will be out.
Saka limped off in the 10th minute of Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich, and did not train on Friday. Arsenal sent him for a second MRI after an initial scan could not establish the extent of the damage.
“He's got another MRI this afternoon because he had quite a lot of fluid in the area so it was difficult to understand the extent of the injury,” Mikel Arteta said. “We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists.”
BBC Sport reported that Arsenal fear a minimum of six weeks out. The club has not confirmed a timescale.
Christos Tzolis is still out with a hamstring injury, so Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are expected to fill the wide roles, with 16-year-old Max Dowman an option from the bench. Eze scored Arsenal's opener in Munich after replacing Saka; Madueke scored the late winner at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Piero Hincapie is available again after an ankle problem sustained in a warm-down following the 2-1 win over Leeds, which kept him out of three matches.
“He trained with us and is available for tomorrow as well,” Arteta said.
Regarding William Saliba, who has been out all season with a back injury, the Gunners have been handed a boost as the French defender has resumed individual work.
Arsenal's Premier League and Champions League form, and the games ahead
The North London club sit second in the Premier League on 18 points from seven games, three behind leaders Manchester City, after Noni Madueke's late goal secured a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The one setback was a 3-0 defeat at Brighton on 19 September.
In the UEFA Champions League, they have seven points from three league-phase matches: a 1-0 win at Napoli, a 3-0 win over Lille and the 2-2 draw in Munich, where Eze scored, and Declan Rice equalised late after a Harry Kane penalty. Arsenal are unbeaten in 15 league-phase games in the competition.
Everton arrive eighth with 10 points. Saturday begins a run of five matches before the November international break for the Gunners: Fleetwood Town away in the Carabao Cup, Liverpool away in the league, Slavia Prague away in Europe and Hull City at home on 7 November.