Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has shown promising signs of recovery ahead of their crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday, according to manager Mikel Arteta.
After a brief stint on the sidelines following a hamstring injury sustained while representing England in the Nations League, Saka has returned to Arsenal’s training ground for limited participation.
The injury occurred during England’s unexpected defeat to Greece at Wembley on October 10, leading Saka to miss their subsequent match against Finland.
Hopes were initially high that Saka might rejoin Arsenal’s lineup in their recent fixture against Bournemouth.
However, his absence in that match left Arsenal lacking their star player, resulting in their first loss of the season with a 2-0 defeat.
Saka also missed training sessions open to the media earlier this week, fueling speculation about his availability.
His absence continued through Arsenal’s Champions League face-off with Shakhtar Donetsk, although the team secured a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to an own goal.
Also See: Arsenal Injury Update: Arteta Provides Latest On Saka, Odegaard, And Timber Ahead Of Shakhtar Donetsk Clash
However, as Arsenal prepares to host title rivals Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta has provided an optimistic update on Saka’s condition.
“He has done a bit of training on the grass,” Arteta shared during Friday’s pre-match press conference.
“How far we can get him to Sunday, that’s another question.”
Arsenal is currently managing injuries across several key players, including defender Jurrien Timber, who was sidelined for Arsenal’s win over Shakhtar.
Timber, who has been nursing a muscle injury since early October, could provide some relief to Arsenal’s backline, which will be missing William Saliba due to suspension after his red card at Bournemouth.
Arteta also mentioned the unexpected progress of Timber’s recovery:
“It is the first session that he could have some involvement,” he said.
“We expected him to be further back in his rehab.”
Arsenal’s injury list extends to Riccardo Calafiori, who suffered a knee twist late in the game against Shakhtar.
Following an initial scan, reports suggest the Italian defender might face a short spell on the sidelines, awaiting further tests for a more definitive timeline.
Commenting on his players’ overall readiness for Sunday’s high-stakes showdown, Arteta stated,
“We are going to do our very best to somehow have them available. But it is very, very uncertain.”
The potential return of Saka and Timber is pivotal as Arsenal seeks to rebound from their Bournemouth setback and strengthen their title pursuit against Liverpool.
