Arsenal got a decent result against Bayern Munich, but that was not the main story by full-time. Bukayo Saka went off inside the opening ten minutes and the early signs were poor. Mikel Arteta did not try to dress it up.

Saka had started well, sharp on the ball, direct in the duel, and causing Alphonso Davies problems straight away. Then it changed. After moving the ball wide, he pulled up, went down clutching his left leg and needed to come off immediately. He limped away looking uncomfortable, pointed to his quad while speaking to Arteta, and went down the tunnel.

Saka injury concern grows for Arsenal

Arteta confirmed the issue was in the quad and his post-match verdict was bleak. “We lost Bukayo, who actually was having a great game,” Arteta said. “They are a bit concerned. A player that has to come off with a really sharp pain is never good news but we have to wait and see.”

That is the key point. This was not a player trying to run something off. This was immediate, and when a manager says “It doesn’t look good at all but we have to see,” there is not much room for optimism.

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich result offers little comfort

There was some good news on the pitch. Eberechi Eze replaced Saka and scored Arsenal’s opener in the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich. That matters, because Arsenal will need alternatives if Saka misses time. Even so, one useful cameo does not cancel out the significance of losing one of the side’s most reliable attackers.

Saka has started all seven Premier League matches this season and two of Arsenal’s three Champions League fixtures. That volume matters.

Arteta highlights intensity and workload

Asked whether the workload on elite players is becoming unsustainable, Arteta pointed to the physical demands at the top level. “Against Lille he didn’t start the game, then he started the game at the weekend,” Arteta said. “It was very early in the game. I don’t know, the level of intensity that these games require is something incredible. You could see last game, PSG vs Barcelona, what happened.

“This is man to man, 96 minutes, every action there is no breathing. The quality, the attention, the level that you need is unbelievable. It’s the highest level.

“Those things happen unfortunately. It doesn’t look good at all but we have to see.”

Now Arsenal wait. And waiting is usually bad news.