Bukayo Saka limped off injured in the first half of Arsenal’s Champions League encounter with French side Lens on Tuesday night.
Saka struggled in the Champions League against Lens and was substituted in the 34th minute after he couldn’t continue.
This development has handed Arsenal a major scare as they face title rivals Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday.
Bukayo Saka was a vital player for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the match against Lens, as he assisted Gabriel Jesus’ opening goal.
The Englishman also missed Arsenal’s Carabao Cup win over Brentford after “limping quite badly”, per Arteta.
However, Arteta started the England international against Bournemouth on Saturday, and he scored the opening goal in their 4-0 win.
He was also substituted in the win over Bournemouth after suffering a knock as he tried to block a shot. After the game, Arteta acknowledged that it was a “pretty bad knock” for his player.
The Gunners have now been handed a fresh concern after Bukayo Saka went straight down the tunnel after going off in the Champions League match.
Being without Saka as Arsenal face Manchester City next weekend is a major concern for Arteta as the London-born attacker has been vital for the team.
Gabriel Martinelli is out due to injury so Fabio Vieira, Eddie Nketiah or Reiss Nelson would be the players in line to start against the reigning champions if Saka is out.
Fabio Vieira replaced him in the match after he appeared to have suffered a muscular injury rather than a contact injury.
Bukayo Saka has featured in 87 matches in the Premier League and it is unclear whether he will be fit to play against City to make it 88.
Despite the effort put in by Bukayo Saka and the team last season, Pep Guardiola’s treble-winners won the league ahead of them with 5 points.
However, the Gunners got a bit of revenge earlier this season as they won the Community Shield against City on penalties in August.
Saka converted a penalty the last time Manchester City visited Arsenal at the Emirates back in February this year.
Manchester City are also without captain Kevin De Bruyne who is out injured and Rodri – who got a red card against Nottingham Forest.
Mikel Arteta was asked about the injury suffered by Bukayo Saka on Tuesday night, and he said: “It doesn’t look good.”
He also went on to add: “He tried to backheel a ball in the first half. He felt something. It was muscular. He was uncomfortable and we had to take him off.”
“We don’t know anything more than that. It was big enough not to allow him to play the rest of the game and that is a worry for us.”
Arteta was then asked if Bukayo Saka would be fit enough to face Man City, and he replied: “I haven’t a clue. I don’t know”.
Arsenal couldn’t afford to have Bukayo Saka go down with an injury, but they can replace just about everyone else.
The loss to Lens demonstrated why the English winger is crucial to Arsenal’s success. As soon as Saka left the field, the Gunners’ tire went flat.
This season, Bukayo Saka has averaged 14 one-on-ones per Premier League game, more than any other player.
