Mikel Arteta provides Arsenal injury update on Bukayo Saka and four others ahead of Liverpool

Mikel Arteta was speaking to the media ahead of their Premier League match with Liverpool at Anfield, which is without a doubt the biggest match of the season so far. Both sides have won their opening games, but while the Gunners have conceded zero goals, Arne Slot’s team have let in four.

The Gunnershave managed this feat despite starting the season without key players and some unfinished business in the transfer market. Neither Gabriel Jesus nor Christian Norgaard has featured so far this season.

Kai Havertz has since been confirmed to have undergone knee surgery. Arteta, unable to provide clarity before, was now more open on the topic, having been given more information.

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“I think it will be weeks, but hopefully not months,” he said. “It's very sad. This is our profession and now we lose another player for many weeks.”

Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard came off in the game against Leeds. Saka has been ruled out, but there was hope that the club captain could be in contention.

“Bukayo is doing better, but he will be out for a few weeks,” he said. “No surgery. It's not as bad as the previous one, very unfortunate. It was an action that required full power from him, had to change direction and he felt something.”

On Odegaard he said: “We don't know yet, he hasn't trained yet. If he does it will be tomorrow. No, there is an injury there but if everything can go well and he can cope with it.”

Then there is Ben White, who has also not been spotted in training this week after leaving the field against Manchester United. Norgaard, too, has not been photographed in any of the sessions this week, with Arteta confirming he is unsure if the duo will be involved.

“We don't know,” he said. “Let's see how both are tomorrow to give them a chance for the game."

Arsenal take on Liverpool on Sunday, August 31 at 4:30pm UK Time. football.london coverage will start on our live blog four hours before kick-off.