Bayern Munich may well have been missing the likes of Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich on Wednesday night but when Bukayo Saka hobbled off with just ten minutes of the game gone, Arsenal were left hamstrung too.
As a result, their performance at the Allianz is made all the more impressive. Sure, Mikel Arteta’s men were open in midfield and should have got closer to Harry Kane before he could tee up the hosts’ first goal but encouragingly, they looked more alive in the final third.
Eberechi Eze scored a successive Champions League goal while Noni Madueke was vibrant too, playing a role in Declan Rice’s equaliser.
As a result, Saka wasn’t actually missed greatly as they secured a 2-2 draw in Germany.
How Saka’s injury will hurt Arsenal
It was the news no Arsenal fan wanted. After a summer of failing to secure key targets in attack, the last thing they needed was a Saka injury, particularly with Christos Tzolis out as well.
Andrea Berta tried to secure deals for Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior over the sunny months but ultimately ended up failing in his endevours. With Tzolis the only forward to arrive, it has left Mikel Arteta extremely short.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both vacated London and how they could do with them now. Martinelli’s pace would have been of particular use in transition in Munich on Wednesday.
Alas, Arteta will not be able to call upon them. Even worse, the extent of Saka’s injury is not expected to be short-term; it did not look great.
The winger innocuously fell to the ground after playing a routine pass. He lay on the turf for a few minutes before eventually limping off.
It’s a huge blow, even if the England international’s form has been somewhat inconsistent this season. In the Premier League, however, he has easily been one of their most vibrant players.
No Arsenal player has scored more goals, only two players have created more chances and he leads the way for shots on target per 90 minutes too.
Arteta needs to find a solution ASAP.
The obvious option to replace Saka
As was the case on Wednesday night, the most likely solution for Arteta will be to play Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke as his wingers.
Madueke was initially selected to play on the left against Bayern after his match-winning cameo versus Nottingham Forest at the City Ground a week ago.
However, he is likely to play from the right flank against Everton on Saturday. It is a role he has had mixed success in.
When he featured in this position against Lille in the Champions League a week and a half ago, he was incredibly poor. The England international provided 15 crosses in that game but only one of them found its intended target. Viktor Gyokeres was rightfully visibly frustrated with this teammate.
Yet, when he faced off against Bayern a few days ago, Madueke was a lot more convincing – he was a big threat to Vincent Kompany’s backline.
He completed the joint-most dribbles on the pitch (3), while only Eze and Kai Havertz had more touches in the opposition’s penalty box. Furthermore, he completed 94% of his passes in what was a much more technically secure performance in possession than it was against Lille.
Yet, Arsenal fans would be lying if they said they wouldn’t rather have someone else play in Madueke’s position.
The wildcard option to replace Saka
While Madueke is actually enjoying a pretty vibrant season, fans will be hoping and praying that the time will soon come for Max Dowman to play more regular first team football.
Let’s cast your mind back two years. Saka has just torn his hamstring and with little cover, Arteta turned to 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.
He was electric on the right flank. The best compliment we can give him is that he looked like a Saka regen. The teenager ended the campaign with nine goals in all competitions. Not bad for someone in the first full year as a professional.
Now, two years on, Arteta must repeat that trick but unleash a young boy he’s been very patient with; Dowman.
The youngest scorer in Premier League history, it is remarkable to think that the attacker is still only 16 years of age. Alas, he looks more than ready to make an impact and his performance against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup proved that.
|
Dowman vs Ipswich |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
90 |
|
Goals |
2 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Successful passes |
23/25 (92%) |
|
Shots |
3 |
|
Touches |
50 |
|
Fouled |
2x |
|
Successful dribbles |
3 |
|
Carries |
19 |
|
Progressive carries |
5 |
|
Defensive contributions |
4 |
During a 4-1 win at Portman Road, Dowman stole the show with a two goal display that blew everybody away. On the night, he played as an attacking midfielder but he’s played the vast majority of his football from the right flank since emerging in the first-team.
Whatever role he plays in, he usually impresses. That said, he has had very limited involvement in 2026/27 to date, playing just nine minutes in the league and only five minutes in Europe.
Yet, as Gary O’Neil put it after Arsenal’s trip to Suffolk, Arteta can be patient with the youngster. “Mikel Arteta has so many good players that you can manage Dowman however you want”, he began. O’Neil continued: “You can give him as much time as he needs, you can drop him in when it fits. If the game got tough for him you’ve got Odegaard sat there ready to come on and help if he needs to. He’s in a great spot.”
Well, the time is now, surely it is? Dowman has waited patiently in the wings for a moment like this. Like Saka, he’s got that ability to come inside from the right on his left foot and bamboozle defenders, like Jack Wilshere he’s got that elite ball-carrying ability and like a prime Santi Cazorla, he’s a remarkably good technician, someone who’s confident of playing off both feet.
Perhaps not since the days of Mr Cazorla have Arsenal had a player so effervescent in the final third as Dowman. It’s been a long time but he deserves all of the plaudits and all of the comparisons coming his way.
After waiting for the right moment to give him regular first-team minutes, Arteta must now finally throw the 16-year-old in at the deep end in a bid to successfully replace Saka.
