Bukayo Saka is hoping to be fit to face Liverpool in Sunday’s title showdown.
England star Saka has missed Arsenal’s last two games with a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty. But Gunners winger Saka is battling to be ready for this weekend as he hopes to return to full training which would give Arsenal a major boost amid the club’s current injury crisis.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was quite pessimistic about Saka’s chances after his team’s win over Shakhtar Donetsk as he also missed the defeat at Bournemouth last Saturday. But England’s medical staff were insistent that it was not a serious injury and Arsenal are also hopeful that he can return for what has become a huge game in their season.
Arsenal entertain in-form Liverpool knowing defeat would leave them seven points adrift of top spot and they are already facing a mounting absentee list. William Saliba will definitely miss the game through a one-match suspension after being sent off at Bournemouth.
Riccardo Calafiori would have been an obvious choice to deputise but the Italian defender suffered a knee injury against Shakhtar and is a big doubt for the weekend. The player who is closest to a return could be Jurrien Timber who has not been ruled out of the Liverpool game.
The Holland defender suffered a muscle injury earlier this month against Paris Saint-Germain, missed the International games but Arsenal are confident it is not a serious injury, although he remains a doubt for the weekend.
Arsenal are also hoping for better news on Martin Odegaard who is making good progress on his rehabilitation after an ankle injury suffered while playing for Norway in September. Gunners captain Odegaard is hoping to return before the next international break and, while this weekend will come too soon, Arsenal have big games against Newcastle and Inter Milan on the horizon.
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Arteta vowed following Tuesday’s 1-0 win at home to Shakhtar in the Champions League that the Gunners would be ‘flying’ when Liverpool, who sit four points ahead of them, come to town. “We have now four days [to recover],” Arteta said. “Believe me, come Sunday we’ll be flying.”
He also admitted: “We looked tired. We lacked that sharpness with and without the ball to regain the ball in the right moments and areas and gave certain balls away that allow certain transitions. We had chances again and missed a big penalty.”
