Saka needs further scan as Arsenal await Saliba return timeline
Arsenal have been handed a mixed injury picture as the second international break of the season approaches, with Bukayo Saka requiring another scan before a timeline on his quad injury can be confirmed and William Saliba still working his way back from a long term back problem.
The update comes after a significant Premier League weekend for Mikel Arteta's side, who beat Liverpool at Anfield in the league for the first time since 2014 while Manchester City dropped points at home to Brighton. Arsenal now sit three points clear at the top with one more league match to play before the break, though attention first turns to a Champions League trip to face Slavia Praha in Prague, with Hull visiting the Emirates on Saturday.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
Eze shakes off knock but misses out against Liverpool
Eberechi Eze had been expected to start against Liverpool after impressing off the bench in the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich and in the win over Everton the previous weekend. Instead, he was dropped for Christos Tzolis' surprise inclusion and remained an unused substitute throughout.
Arteta explained afterwards that Eze had been carrying a fitness concern. “We had an issue with Ebs as well that it was incredible that he was in the squad today,” the Arsenal manager said. “I want to give credit to all the medical and the performance team because what they're doing with those boys is incredible, every three days to keep everybody at this level. That's why these are the margins sometimes where you win a football match and not when you have somebody available or not.”
The fact Eze was named among the substitutes suggests the issue is not severe, and he should be in contention to face Slavia Praha on Wednesday, pending a further update from Arteta at Tuesday's open training session.
Saka awaits scan results, Saliba targets December return
Saka has now missed Arsenal's last three games in all competitions after picking up a quad injury just 10 minutes into the Bayern Munich match. He is not expected to feature against Slavia Praha or Hull, and the club remain unable to put a definite timeline on his absence, with reports suggesting he could be out for as long as eight weeks.
Arteta had indicated before the Liverpool win that a further scan was required. “As I said, he needed another scan to see how the amount of fluid that was there was resolving, whether the tendon is touched and how badly it is touched,” Arteta said. “Afterwards we'll know more about it.”
Saliba, meanwhile, has not played for Arsenal since last season's Champions League final due to a back injury that flared up again while on World Cup duty for France this summer. He has avoided surgery and has recently returned to individual work on the grass at Arsenal's training ground.
“Next week, we have another MRI with him to see how the healing process is at the moment,” Arteta said. “Every sign so far has been very, very positive. It will be great to have him.” A return in December remains the current expectation.
As reported by the Evening Standard, further clarity on all three cases is expected in the coming days as Arsenal navigate a busy run of fixtures before the international break arrives.
