Arsenal’s Latest Challenge Before 2026 Ends: Finding Solutions Without Bukayo Saka

 

Losing Bukayo Saka is not just about filling one spot in the lineup. He is Arsenal's top scorer this Premier League season with 3 goals, and his role on the right flank is central to how Mikel Arteta's attack operates, creating chances and pulling defenders where he wants them. Without him, Arsenal need to keep their attacking intensity and spread the workload across the squad.

 

I believe Arsenal have enough tactical options to remain competitive during his absence. However, having capable replacements is not the same as reproducing Saka’s overall influence. The key question is whether Arteta can combine their different strengths into an effective attacking system.

 

What Happened to Bukayo Saka?

 

Saka suffered a suspected quadriceps injury during Arsenal’s 2-2 Champions League draw against Bayern Munich. He was forced off after approximately ten minutes, and the initial assessment was complicated by swelling and fluid around the affected area.

 

Arteta later said Saka would be out for weeks, not days. More scans are needed to find out how serious the injury is. Reports suggest he could be out for a while, but Arsenal have not given a return date.

 

What worries me more is what this means for Saka over a full season. Arteta has talked before about the muscle and tendon problems Saka has had, so you have to ask how much he can handle across a whole year. It is also a squad problem. When one player is so important to the attack, managers want him for the big games, and that gets risky when the schedule leaves no time to rest. Arsenal need to get through the next few weeks, but they also need a plan to bring Saka back without giving him the same heavy workload that caused his earlier problems.

 

Arsenal’s Options: Who Can Step Up Without Saka?

 

Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Martin Ødegaard and Max Dowman offer different attacking qualities, giving Arteta several tactical options in Saka’s absence.

 

1. Madueke on the Right, Eze on the Left

 

The most straightforward solution is to bring Noni Madueke into Saka’s position on the right wing. Madueke is comfortable operating close to the touchline, where he can stretch the opposition’s defensive shape, take on defenders and create space for teammates.

 

I believe this is the option that would require the fewest changes to Arsenal’s existing system. Rather than redesigning the entire attack, Arteta could allow Madueke to occupy the right flank while Eberechi Eze takes responsibility on the left, particularly with Christos Tzolis also sidelined.

 

This arrangement would allow Arsenal to maintain their preferred three-man midfield and preserve the overall structure of the team. The main tactical adjustment could come at left-back. Since Eze is arguably more effective when moving into attacking midfield areas than when staying wide, Riccardo Calafiori might need to hold the width more frequently instead of regularly moving inside.

 

For me, the advantage of this approach is continuity. Arsenal would retain a familiar formation while allowing each player to operate in a role that suits his strengths. 

 

Saka vs Madueke vs Eze 

 

Source: FotMob, 2026/27 Premier League statistics

 

2. Make Martin Odegaard the Centre of Arsenal’s Attack

 

A second approach would be to make Martin Odegaard the primary creative outlet. Rather than expecting Madueke to reproduce Saka’s influence individually, Arteta could encourage the team to build more of its attacking play around the Norwegian midfielder.

 

This is particularly interesting because Odegaard has already demonstrated that he can take on a more prominent creative role. During his stronger early-season performances, Arsenal enjoyed a run of five consecutive victories, with their attacking football attracting praise for its fluidity and combinations.

 

Odegaard First 5 Games vs Last 7 Games Stats (26/27 All Competitions)

 

 

Although Arsenal recorded five wins, one draw and one defeat in their next seven matches, questions remained over whether their performances matched the standards they had set the previous season.

 

I think Saka’s absence gives Arteta an opportunity to revisit that earlier approach. Arsenal frequently build their attacks down the right, largely because of Saka’s influence in that area. Odegaard also operates effectively in that area, particularly when combining with the right winger and making passes into advanced positions.

 

3. All-Out Attack and Youth: Give Max Dowman a Chance

 

The third option is more situational, but I believe it deserves consideration when Arsenal need an injection of creativity or unpredictability.

 

Max Dowman offers a different profile from Madueke. While Madueke is particularly comfortable maintaining width, Dowman appears more inclined to drive forward, attack defenders directly and move inside from the right.

 

His performance against Ipswich Town illustrates that potential. Dowman played as a number 10 in his only start so far this season, scored twice and operated alongside Madueke and Eze in an attacking structure that resembled a 2-3-5 in possession.

 

From that position, he could exploit the right half-space, combine with players on the wing and cut inside to threaten the goal. This freedom to move between wide and central areas makes his profile closer to some of Saka’s attacking tendencies than Madueke’s more touchline-oriented role.

 

How Can Gabriel’s Defensive Solidity Help Arsenal Cope Without Saka?

 

The hunt for attacking answers without Bukayo Saka is the big story at Arsenal right now, but Gabriel Magalhães reminds me this team does not rely only on its forwards. One error leading to a shot and only three times dribbled past in the Premier League this season is a record that keeps a defence calm. Martin Keown put it perfectly: "He just loves defending, and the fans just buzz off him. He's a legend of the football club now." I would not argue with him.

 

 

In the 2-0 win over Everton, Gabriel showed what he brings at both ends. He set up the opener with a flick-on from a set piece and then scored a header in the 68th minute. He also topped Arsenal's defensive numbers with eight clearances, two interceptions and three tackles. With William Saliba unavailable, he has shouldered more of the organising work at the back while staying dangerous from corners.

 

That mix matters to me. When the attackers are short of ideas, a defender who can win a game from a corner gives Arsenal a second way to score, and his steady defending helps them hold a lead. He cannot do what Saka does in open play, though. His importance is really a reminder that Arsenal need the whole squad to chip in. If the forwards cannot keep up their usual output, players like Gabriel have to keep delivering at the other end to keep the team competitive.

 

Arsenal Have Options, But Can Those Options Work Together?

 

Yes, but only if Arteta gets their roles right. As mentioned above, Arsenal have several options to cope without Saka, but each approach comes with its own risks.

 

Starting Madueke and Eze in their preferred positions would preserve Arsenal’s structure, but both players must contribute enough goals and chances to help offset Saka’s absence.

 

An Odegaard-focused approach could offer another solution, but he cannot be Arsenal’s only creative outlet. If opponents block his passing lanes, Madueke, Eze and the midfielders must provide alternative ways to progress the ball and create chances.

 

Dowman is another exciting possibility, especially given his direct style of play. However, his limited senior experience means Arteta should use him as a tactical option rather than expect him to replace Saka immediately.

 

Arsenal have several options, but the challenge is finding the right balance between creativity, width and goalscoring threat. So, which approach would you choose if you were Arteta?

 

What Will Happen in the Next Liverpool vs Arsenal Match If Bukayo Saka Is Absent?

 

Bukayo Saka may miss this clash due to his injury. Without Saka, Arsenal could pose less of a threat down the right, potentially allowing Liverpool to adjust their defensive approach and pressing strategy. The betting markets may react to this, and that is exactly the kind of thing I would watch before placing a bet.

 

Note: Odds are accurate as of 29 Oct 2026.

 

Arsenal have averaged around five to six corners per match in the 2026/27 Premier League stats, so I would keep an eye on Over 4.5 Team Corners. Without Saka, Arteta may rely more on Eze, overlapping full-backs and alternative wide combinations to maintain pressure in the final third. I think those attacks can still produce corners through blocked crosses and defensive clearances, even if Arsenal struggle to turn chances into goals.

 

Note: Odds are accurate as of 29 Oct 2026.

 

Saka’s absence could weaken Arsenal’s ability to beat defenders and finish chances down the right flank, making both teams’ recent scoring form particularly relevant. Liverpool have been held scoreless in two of their last five matches, while three of Arsenal’s first four away league games this season have finished with two goals or fewer. The teams’ last three Premier League meetings ended 0–0, 1–0 and 2–2, with two of those matches finishing under 2.5 goals. Noni Madueke could still contribute a goal for Arsenal, but his involvement remains uncertain due to an ankle issue, so his fitness and starting status will be worth monitoring before the match.