Arsenal have moved beyond the defensive injury issues that threatened their early-season rhythm, but Mikel Arteta is now dealing with a different concern at the sharp end of the pitch.

The latest blow centres on Bukayo Saka, who has been ruled out after making an injury-free start to 2026/27 following two straight seasons disrupted by lay-offs. His night against Bayern Munich ended after only 10 minutes at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

“It doesn’t look good at all, but we have to wait and see,” Arteta told reporters afterwards. “It’s his quad. It was early in the game, and the level of intensity his game requires is something incredible. The quality, strength and attention you need has to be at the highest level, and those things happen unfortunately.” In an earlier response to TNT Sports, the Gunners manager said it is “never a good sign” when a player is withdrawn because of a “a really sharp pain.”

Saka has long had problems in the thigh and hamstring area, from minor issues to longer spells out. At one point in 2024/25, he missed 99 consecutive days while also being on track to break the Premier League’s single-season assist record.

Arsenal still need more information before they can judge how long he will be absent, but the early signs point away from a quick recovery.

That situation may expose the club’s summer decisions. Arsenal did not add another wide forward, and their willingness to keep moving Gabriel Martinelli on without a replacement could now become a major issue.

The club knew upgrades were needed after winning the Premier League and missing out in the Champions League final. Leandro Trossard, dependable but limited, was replaced by Christos Tzolis, yet that was only part of the wider plan. Interest in Morgan Rogers ended when he joined Chelsea, Bradley Barcola chose Liverpool, and Vinícius Júnior signed a new contract with Real Madrid.

Arteta was clearly not satisfied with Martinelli, who initially resisted leaving. Arsenal wanted to cash in, but without a proven upgrade, the decision may have left them short in a position where options are already limited.

Saka’s replacement in Munich was Eberechi Eze. The 28-year-old, signed for big money ahead of last season, is naturally a No. 10 rather than a winger, but has had to cover on the left after Martinelli’s exit. He scored against Bayern, making it two Champions League games in a row with a goal, yet his overall output remains underwhelming.

Noni Madueke started against Bayern because Tzolis, who is loosely expected back in November, is still unavailable. The England international has also failed to make a strong case, having been used since the international break because there are few better alternatives.

Arsenal are understood to be preparing for at least 60 redundancies among off-field staff, according to multiple reports, coming only weeks after handing Mikel Arteta the Premier League’s biggest manager salary.

The Telegraph reported that the cuts are imminent, although the specific roles affected have not been disclosed. The timing has drawn criticism, particularly with Arteta’s new contract fresh in the background and Declan Rice also nearing a new deal that could see his pay rise to more than £350,000 a week.

That kind of spending stands in stark contrast to the people working behind the scenes. Arsenal’s revenue rose by £319 million between 2022 and 2025, yet the club’s latest decisions have prompted scrutiny over what those figures mean in practice and who ultimately bears the cost.

The club’s stated values include “championing each other,” “acting for a winning culture” and “doing the right thing (even when no one is looking).” Against that backdrop, the removal of 60 members of staff has been met with obvious unease, whatever explanation the club may later offer.

At the same time, Arsenal remain a business as well as a football club, and the accounts underline that reality. Despite strong feelings on the pitch, the club has made a loss for seven straight years, including in 2024–25, when record revenues of £691 million were reported.

Costs have also continued to climb. Operating expenses increased from £148 million to £201 million across the 2024–25 season, and the next set of accounts may show another rise when they are eventually published. For now, the debate around Arsenal is less about results and more about the balance between ambition, finance and responsibility.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has made no attempt to play down the size of the club’s ambitions, insisting the Gunners can “absolutely” win the Quadruple, even at this early stage of the season.

His comments come with Arsenal riding a long European run. Since their loss to Inter Milan at San Siro in November 2024, they have won their next 14 league phase matches in the competition. That sequence carried them to the semifinals in 2025, before defeat in last summer’s final.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Merino described the run in positive terms. “It’s an unbelievable run,” Merino told Sky Sports . “We know we’re making history in the competition.

“At the same time we know how difficult it is to win games. We keep a lot of value and credit in the team for what we’re doing.

Asked directly whether Arsenal could become the first English club to win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season, he did not step back from the challenge. “Absolutely,” he shot back.

“This is the mentality. This is the aim. We were so, so close last season and that proved to us we are ready for it. Now it’s about details, being present and ready in the right moments. And we believe that.”

The achievement remains beyond any English side. No club has won England’s top flight, Europe’s premier club competition, the FA Cup and the League Cup in the same campaign since the League Cup began in 1960.

Arsenal have already flirted with that conversation before. Last season, William Saliba openly spoke about the four trophies, though the club’s attempt ended in March after a Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City.

The article’s wider context points to Arsenal’s depth. Even Mikel Arteta has acknowledged its value, saying at the start of the season: “The deeper the squad that we have, the better,” before adding, “We have to manage that.”