Arsenal were left waiting on the extent of a fresh Saka injury concern after Bukayo Saka was forced off inside the first 10 minutes of their Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich. The winger, who has enjoyed an influential start to the season, was replaced by Eberechi Eze after appearing to pick up a muscular thigh problem.
The timing could hardly have been worse for Arsenal. They are defending their Premier League title and trying to go one better than their runners-up finish in Europe, but losing one of their most reliable attacking players so early in a heavyweight tie immediately shifts the focus from the result to the medical room.
What happened to Saka?
The Independent reported that the Gunners talisman appeared to pick up a muscular injury in his thigh as he tried to play a pass outside the Bayern box, immediately feeling his quad as he hit the deck. He was then taken off in the 10th minute, with Eberechi Eze coming on in his place.
There is no confirmed diagnosis yet, but the early substitution is enough to raise the possibility that Arsenal are dealing with more than a minor knock. At this stage, the club will be hoping it is a short absence rather than another longer spell out for a player who has struggled to keep fit for prolonged stints throughout his career.
Why the concern is so immediate
This is not a one-off issue in Saka’s recent history. He first sustained a hamstring injury in December 2024, was plagued with an Achilles issue at the back-end of last season, and then missed over 20 games in 2025 because of hamstring problems. That record makes any fresh muscle issue especially significant.
Even so, Saka has still been central to Arsenal’s strong start, with five goal contributions across all competitions. That is why his early exit matters so much: Arsenal can replace quality, but they cannot easily replace a player who gives them rhythm, end product and balance in the final third.
Arsenal’s next wait
There was at least a positive note elsewhere in Munich. Eberechi Eze, who had scored the winner at Nottingham Forest last weekend, also found the net in the current match after VAR overturned an offside decision and allowed Arsenal’s opener to stand.
But the bigger story remains Saka. Arsenal will now hope the injury is not severe, because the difference between a brief lay-off and a longer absence could shape both their domestic title defence and their European ambitions.
