Mikel Arteta gives ‘very positive’ injury updates to William Saliba, Bukaya Saka and others

A jubilant Mikel Arteta has announced that he has “very positive news” regarding Arsenal’s myriad of injuries ahead of the club’s Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.

Gunners are possessed injuries this season, not only is he losing players for extended periods, but arguably the most important individuals on the team. William Saliba was the latest to join the treatment room at London Colney after suffering a muscle problem which sidelined him Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

Initial reports suggested the normally durable Frenchman would be out for around two weeks with a hamstring strain. Arteta did not reveal a detailed time frame but revealed that Saliba is “developing very well”.

“He has already felt much better in the last few days, but this game comes a little too soon for him,” the coach added.

Riccardo Calafiori has been blighted by minor fitness concerns during his debut campaign in the capital but should be back for the European game in midweek.

As Arteta was only too keen to reveal, teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri will join his Italian team-mate in the squad. “Very positive news,” beamed the Spanish boss. “We missed them for a few weeks and today they returned to training. They will be available for the game.”

Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s most missed absent. The reliable winger suffered a hamstring tear before Christmas which briefly looked good threatening the rest of the season.

Arteta reluctantly revealed that the striker will be out for several months. Although a return in March is still the expected time frame for his recovery, Arteta added: “He’s doing really well. He’s feeling better day by day, but we have to respect the healing process and then he has to go through the other stages in his rehabilitation.”

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