Saka has missed four games with a quad injury, and Arteta says he is out for weeks yet
Arsenal’s winger will only get back on the grass after the international break, with Manchester City, Tottenham and Real Madrid all to come in the next five weeks.
Nov 7, 2026
Mikel Arteta did not put a date on it. Asked on Friday about Bukayo Saka, the Arsenal manager said the winger’s quad injury was a matter of “weeks”, and that Saka would only start working on the grass again once the November international break is over.
Saka has not played since the 10th minute of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich on 21 October. He pulled up at the Allianz Arena with what Arteta called “a really sharp pain” and was replaced by Eberechi Eze, who went on to open the scoring. He has missed four games since.
What Arteta said
“We’re talking about weeks. Let’s see, after the international break he’ll start hitting the pitch,” Arteta said ahead of Saturday’s home game against Hull City. “But unfortunately he’s going to be out for a while.”
The injury has already cost Saka his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the Nations League games against Croatia and Spain. Five Arsenal players did make it: Declan Rice, Eze, Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ezri Konsa.
Konsa was the better news. He came off during Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Slavia Prague, but Arteta said he was feeling better and is fit for Hull. William Saliba, out since hurting his back at the World Cup, travelled to Prague but did not play.
The run Arsenal face without him
Arsenal have mostly coped. They won three of the four games without him, beating Everton at home, Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield and Slavia in Prague. The exception was the Carabao Cup, where they went out on penalties at fourth-tier Fleetwood Town. The champions go into the Hull game top of the Premier League on 24 points, three clear of Manchester City.
The timing is the worry. The run after the break is brutal: Newcastle away on 21 November, Borussia Dortmund at home in the Champions League three days later, then Manchester City at the Emirates on 29 November. The north London derby at Tottenham follows on 6 December, and Real Madrid visit on 9 December.
A player who only gets back on the grass after the break still needs time to get match fit, and Arteta gave no sign he will rush it. City on 29 November looks tight. The derby a week later feels a more realistic target, though nobody at Arsenal is putting a date on it.