Mikel Arteta admits Bukayo Saka’s injury “doesn’t look good at all” after he limped off in Arsenal’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich.
The winger was replaced by Eberechi Eze in the 10th minute at the Allianz Arena due to a quad issue.
Eze gave the Gunners a 25th-minute lead before Declan Rice salvaged a draw eight minutes from time after Alphonso Davies and a Harry Kane penalty turned the heavyweight group-stage clash in Bayern’s favour.
“They are a bit concerned,” Arteta told TNT Sports, referring to the medical team’s assessment of Saka.
“A player who has to come off with a really sharp pain is never good news but we have to wait and see.”
Saka has started all seven of Arsenal’s Premier League matches this season and two of three Champions League games.
“The level of intensity this game requires is something incredible,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference, as he referenced the ACL injury suffered by Paris St Germain forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia against Barcelona on Tuesday.
“You could see it last night, the PSG-Barcelona game, what happened.
“This is man-to-man for 96 minutes in every action. There’s no breathing. The stress, the quality, the intensity, the level that you need, it’s unbelievable. It’s the highest level
“And those things happen, unfortunately. It doesn’t look good at all, but we have to wait and see.”
Arsenal responded well to falling behind in their biggest test since losing last season’s final to Paris St Germain on penalties.
The battling point in Bavaria extended the Gunners’ unbeaten start to this season’s competition following back-to-back wins over Napoli and Lille.
“We take the draw, although that doesn’t mean that we are not keen to win the game,” said Arteta.
“You could see that right from the beginning, the mindset, the purpose and the intention that the team has, to be very dominant, to come here and cause problems to Bayern, to press them and to attack them, and that’s certainly what we’ve done.
“We went down, the team showed an incredible composure, spirit to keep going, to attack them.
“I know the opponent that we have played, the players and the coach. That’s why I think I have to give my big credit to our team and our players.”
Kane – Tottenham’s all-time record scorer – was on course to claim the winner after registering his 16th goal in 23 career outings against Arsenal by converting a 61st-minute penalty following Jurrien Timber’s handball.
The England captain, who is contention to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday, earlier produced a sublime assist for Davies’ equaliser.
Rice backed his international team-mate to win football’s most prestigious individual prize after stealing his limelight. Kane scored 73 goals for club and country last season.
“He is the clear winner,” Rice told TNT Sports. “His numbers speak for themselves, the year he has had has been remarkable.
“When you play with him you realise how good he is and when you play against him you see how much of a pain it is.
“He is ridiculous, such a good player and I am lucky I can play with him, not so lucky I have to play against him.”
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