Bukayo Saka was visibly struggling to walk off the pitch during Arsenal's last outing, and ahead of the club's match against Everton, manager Mikel Arteta made clear that the news is not good. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Arteta confirmed that Saka needed further scans and specialist opinions before any return date could be confirmed. "When a player is struggling to walk off the pitch and he's restricted in his movement, they are not good signs," he said.
On Friday, October 23rd 2026, Saka went in for an MRI scan to help doctors better understand the extent of the injury. Arteta explained that fluid around the affected area had made it difficult to assess the severity straight away, adding that the club expected to know more the following day. The one bright spot Arteta was willing to share: Saka had driven himself to training, which the coach called good news.
Arteta also took the moment to speak honestly about the pressure being placed on players across the board. He pointed to Arsenal's recent schedule, playing Sunday, Wednesday, and then Saturday, and argued that the governing authorities need to better account for what that kind of workload does to the human body. "Every hour is important," he said. "We have to play three times in less than six games. The games are so demanding, we are chasing until the last minute."
Speculation is now pointing to a recovery timeline of two months or more, which would keep Saka out of action well into 2027. For a side where he is central to almost everything Arteta builds, that is a significant gap to fill. How Arsenal cope without him in the weeks ahead is the real question now.
Originally published by NotJustOk.