Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka’s timeline remains unknown as he needs more scans on his injured thigh but concedes there are “not good signs”.
Saka limped out of Arsenal’s midweek Champions League clash with an apparent thigh issue and is set to be sidelined for an indefinite period.
Arteta told reporters: “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, but we’ll know more probably tomorrow.
“Again, we need a few more scans and opinions from the specialist. 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.
“Again, let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive assessment and then let you know.”
Saka has picked up numerous knocks and injuries in recent times and Arteta was asked about his durability.
“He’s certainly been different in the last year or so, but the demands that go into the players are immense with club and international competitions, and the time between games are getting narrower,” he said.
“There are less than 66 or 67 hours between games, and every hour is important. The support would be really appreciated, and it’s the same for every team.
“I don’t have that feeling at all (of being burnt out), but certainly what we have to be very mindful of is to create the right ecosystem around a player to maximise his qualities.
“We need to understand what he’s capable of sustaining when he comes back, whenever that is.”
