Mikel Arteta has issued update on the fitness of Arsenal trio Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Ezri Konsa before they welcome Hull City to north London on Saturday afternoon.
Arteta was first asked about Saka’s injury, with the winger left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad owing to the injury he picked up in our 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich last month.
“We’re talking obviously about weeks,” Mikel said. “let’s see after the international break.
“He’s going to start hitting the pitch and start to have more activity and see how he feels, but unfortunately he’s going to be out for a while.
“I don’t want to put these guys under too much pressure. They are doing their best to get back fit, Bukayo is desperate to get back with the team, but it’s still quite early.”
While Saka will miss out on Saturday’s squad, as well as the upcoming international break, Saliba could be involved in both.
Saliba was back on the bench for the first time this season after suffering a back injury playing for France in the World Cup, and could join up with his national team again after we face the Tigers.
“We’ve been in very close contact [with France], I think they’re announcing at 5pm this evening, so they have all the information.
“Now it’s about them, about Zinedine [Zidane] in this case, to give the call. We will accept whatever it is. It’s more between them, because William needs minutes as well.
“I know how much he loves to be around the national team, it’s a new manager, a really exciting one as well, so whatever he’s decided is fine for us.”
The only new injury concern arising from Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday was to Konsa, who had a knock to his knee.
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But with the England man called up to his national team squad, Arteta confirmed that he’ll be ready to go again at the weekend.
“He’s fine – he was feeling much better today. We took him out on Wednesday for a precaution, but yesterday and today he’s been feeling good.”
Konsa is one of five players in Arsenal’s first-team squad called up to the England squad, with Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan rice joining the club’s no.15 with the Three Lions.
Arsenal expressed his pride at seeing so many English players in the squad, feeling it’s an important club value to boast top talents for the country.
“It’s a proud thing to have a big English core in the national team from our club. It’s something that is part of our identity.
“Not only the number, but as well the players that represent us and the national team. They are super happy to be back, you can see that.
“So let’s focus on tomorrow, and after that they can go and be with the national team. It’s a moment that [they’ve] earned, and need to enjoy now.”
