Mikel Arteta has admitted he fears a significant injury setback for Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal winger was forced off within the opening 10 minutes of his side's Champions League draw at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Saka left the Allianz Arena pitch clutching his quad, replaced by fellow England international Eberechi Eze — who made an immediate impression by scoring just 15 minutes after coming on. Harry Kane and Declan Rice also got on the scoresheet in a 2-2 draw.

Arteta's frank assessment

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arteta was candid about the extent of his concern. "[The medical staff] are a bit concerned," the Arsenal manager said. "A player that has to come off with a really sharp pain is never good news. But we have to wait and see. It does not look good at all. It's his quad."

Saka had started all seven of Arsenal's Premier League fixtures this season, contributing three goals — a return that continues a strong scoring run of 28 league goal contributions across the previous two campaigns, albeit both interrupted by injuries.

A familiar problem

Injury absences are, unfortunately, not new territory for the 25-year-old. Last season alone, Saka missed 25 games over a period exceeding three months, and he arrived at a previous World Cup short of fitness and match sharpness after missing 15 games across club and international duty.

The latest setback compounds an already stretched situation for Arteta, with Christos Tzolis and William Saliba also currently sidelined. Piero Hincapie is expected to return for Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Everton on Saturday.

Cover is available — but Saka is irreplaceable

Arsenal's squad depth has been a notable feature of their opening weeks this season, and Wednesday's result underlined it. Eze's goal off the bench, alongside options such as Noni Madueke and Max Dowman, gives Arteta workable alternatives on the right wing.

Nevertheless, Arsenal are a measurably weaker outfit when Saka is absent. The Gunners demonstrated last season that they can cope without him — but no one at the club will be hoping to test that resilience again so soon.