Mikel Arteta provides Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber fitness update ahead of Arsenal v Liverpool clash
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided injury updates on Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber ahead of his side's crunch Premier League clash against Liverpool this Sunday (October 27). The Gunners are dealing with a number of availability concerns ahead of the high-octane encounter.
Saka has been sidelined for Arsenal's last two games after picking up a hamstring injury during the international break. The England international's return has been much awaited, and Arteta has offered some good news.
The Spaniard confirmed that Saka has returned to the training ground, albeit for some light work. Whether the in-form 23-year-old will feature against Liverpool this weekend, however, remains to be seen.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Arteta said (via Sky Sports):
"He has done a bit of training on the grass. How far we can get him to Sunday, that's a different question. We have another day, which is a good thing."
Timber has not featured for the north Londoners since the international break as well. He picked up a muscular injury in Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League win over PSG at the start of the month.
Arteta revealed that the Dutch defender has also had his first training session.
"He has had the first session he could have some involvement with. He has been out for a while. We expected him to be further back than where he is at the moment, but again we have to wait and see."
Arsenal will be without captain Martin Odegaard and Takehiro Tomiyasu through injury, while William Saliba will serve his one-game suspension.
"We have to find a different solution" - Mikel Arteta opens up about William Saliba's absence for Arsenal vs Liverpool
The Gunners have been dealt a major blow with Saliba's unavailability against Liverpool. The French defender has played every minute of their Premier League action since last season's opening game.
Saliba has been a marquee defender for Arteta, forming a stalwart partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes. The pair helped the north Londoners concede the least number of goals (29) in the English top flight last term.
Saliba received Arsenal's third red card of the season in their 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth after committing a last-man foul on Evanilson in the first half. Speaking about his absence from the upcoming Liverpool game, Arteta said in the aforementioned press conference:
"We have different options, players that already played there before. It's true that that partnership has been very stable. He's played every single minute and is now not available. We have to find a different solution which is something that, as a team, we need to be good at."