How Arsenal cope without Bukayo Saka: Madueke, Eze and the 16-year-old Max Dowman
Arsenal win 64% of league games Saka starts and 53% of those he misses. With their star winger facing time out with a quad injury, here are the options for Mikel Arteta and the five games in the next fortnight.
Mikel Arteta confirmed on Wednesday night that Bukayo Saka's problem is with his quad, and that it "does not look good at all". Arsenal have not given a timescale, but they are preparing for a spell without their most important attacker — at the worst possible moment of the season.
Why Saka matters so much
Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Arsenal have won 64.2% of the Premier League games Saka has started, compared with 53.3% of those he has not. He is also the club's top league scorer this season with three goals.
That gap is the difference between a title challenge and a top-four finish over a whole season.
The five games in the next fortnight
| Date | Fixture | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 24 Oct | Arsenal v Everton | Premier League |
| Tue 27 Oct | Fleetwood v Arsenal | Carabao Cup |
| Sun 1 Nov | Liverpool v Arsenal | Premier League |
| Wed 4 Nov | Slavia Prague v Arsenal | Champions League |
| Sat 7 Nov | Arsenal v Hull City | Premier League |
Option 1: Noni Madueke
Madueke is the natural replacement: like Saka, he is a left-footed right winger who likes to cut inside. He came off the bench to score the winner at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. His pace and directness are not in doubt; his end product is less consistent — he attempted 14 unsuccessful crosses against Lille earlier in the season.
Option 2: Eberechi Eze
Eze replaced Saka in Munich and scored within minutes of coming on, from the left. He can play on either side, but Arsenal may need him on the left, where he has been most effective, rather than moving him across.
Option 3: Max Dowman
The most exciting option is Max Dowman, who is just 16. He has played only nine Premier League minutes this season, but Arteta has said he "will have his minutes". The Carabao Cup tie at League Two Fleetwood next Tuesday looks the obvious place to start him.
What changes tactically
Saka is Arsenal's main source of chances from the right: he holds the ball, draws two defenders and creates space for the right-back and the midfielder running beyond. Without him, Arsenal may lean more on set pieces — already a strength — and on Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard arriving in the box. Rice's late equaliser in Munich was a reminder of how important his goals can be.
The bigger picture
Arsenal are three points behind Manchester City, with a trip to Anfield to come. The next fortnight will show whether their squad, strengthened by signings such as Bruno Guimarães this summer, can carry them without their best player. Follow Arsenal's fixtures and results and the Premier League table; the injury itself is covered in our Saka injury update.
FAQ
What injury does Bukayo Saka have? A quad injury, picked up after ten minutes against Bayern Munich on 21 October 2026.
Who will replace Saka at Arsenal? Noni Madueke is the most likely starter on the right, with Eberechi Eze and 16-year-old Max Dowman the other options.
How many games could Saka miss? Arsenal have not given a timescale. They play five games between 24 October and 7 November.
