Mikel Arteta has provided the latest injury update on Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Christos Tzolis ahead of his side’s trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
The boss was quizzed on long and short-term fitness issues for defenders, midfielders and forwards, and there was plenty of positive news before our Premier League clash, with Saka looking to avoided a serious injury against Bayern Munich.
“He needed another scan to see how the amount of fluid that was there was resolving,” Arteta said on Saka. “[we needed to know] whether the tendon is touched and how badly it is touched.
“That’s all fine, and afterwards we’ll know more about it. We want to have him as quick as possible. The player is desperate, he’s feeling much better than he was a few days ago.”
Asked whether Saka could be in line to return before the international break, the boss was cautiously optimistic.
“He looks like it; we need to wait and see how he evolves.”
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While Saka has been out, Madueke has been playing the majority of minutes on the right-wing.
The England winger missed out on Tuesday’s trip to Fleetwood, but could be back in the squad for Sunday’s game.
“We don’t know yet,” Mikel said at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday afternoon, “we’ll have a training session tomorrow.
“[We’ll] see if he can complete that full session tomorrow and as I said, I will know whether he’s available or not.”
As well as the two right-wingers, trio Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice and Tzolis are all targeting a return to the squad this Sunday.
The boss reported that the trio all trained on Friday afternoon, and will be hoping to do the same on Saturday ahead of the game.
“They all trained today and they will train tomorrow. If everything is OK, they will be available.”
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