Arsenal’s comfortable 5-0 victory over Leeds at the Emirates should have been a straightforward marker in the Premier League title race. Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres each scored twice, with Bukayo Saka adding a sharp finish in the first half. Yet the final whistle was overshadowed by the sight of Saka and captain Martin Odegaard leaving the pitch injured, and the implications of that stretch far beyond north London.

Odegaard was forced off in the first half with a shoulder problem, then Saka followed early in the second period after pulling up while attempting a pass. He needed assistance from the medical team and looked visibly uncomfortable. Given his history of hamstring issues, including surgery last season, the concern was immediate.

Mikel Arteta’s words afterwards captured the mood of uncertainty.

“Martin [Odegaard] looks like a shoulder issue, so we will have to scan tomorrow and understand how bad it is,” Arteta said, as per Sky Sports.

“We have to wait to understand how long he will be out,” the Arsenal boss said when asked about Saka’s status.

He added: “I haven’t spoke to the doctor yet but for Bukayo to come off, it’s significant.”

“And Bukayo had to come off after sprinting, and when he was wrestling with the defender, he felt something in his hamstring, I think.”

“It is the other side [to the previous injury], but it is still not good.”

“I don’t know [how long they will be out]. We already lost Kai [Havertz], who is a big player for us, and now Bukayo and Martin.”

“That is why the squad has to be well-equipped.”

“It is going to be a long season, and we are going to need a lot of players in order to achieve what we want.”

For a player as durable and influential as Saka to withdraw voluntarily is a rare sight, and Arteta’s emphasis made clear the potential significance.

For Liverpool, who are defending champions under Arne Slot, the developments at Arsenal are not trivial. Saka’s role in transitions, his capacity to stretch opponents and his goalscoring output are vital to how Arsenal function. Without him, the balance of Arteta’s side changes, especially in high-pressure matches where margins are slim.

Liverpool and Arsenal have emerged as the two most consistent title challengers over the past two seasons, and any absence for players of Saka and Odegaard’s stature could tilt the race. Arsenal have built depth across the squad, but as Arteta noted, a campaign of this length requires not just quality but resilience.

The absence of Kai Havertz has already reduced Arteta’s options. Now, with two further senior players under assessment, Arsenal’s ability to rotate effectively will be tested. Timber and Gyokeres may have delivered emphatic performances against Leeds, yet over a nine-month campaign, the absence of leaders such as Odegaard and attacking focal points like Saka is far more consequential.

Liverpool supporters will recognise this as a pivotal moment in the season’s early weeks. Slot’s side know that any slip in Arsenal’s momentum could open breathing room at the top of the Premier League table. Equally, Arsenal have the resources to respond, but the next medical updates will define whether this result against Leeds is remembered for the goals scored or the players lost.