Arteta provides big injury updates on Saka, Odegaard & Havertz ahead of Liverpool game

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided injury updates on five players ahead of the Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The Gunners have made a perfect start to the top-flight campaign with back-to-back wins and will aim to extend the winning streak against the holders.

Ahead of the Merseyside trip, the manager was asked for an update on Saka, who picked up a hamstring injury in the 5-0 rout of Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.

In response, he said that Saka is doing better and could be out for a few weeks. The Englishman’s injury is not as bad as the previous one and won’t require surgery.

He told reporters (via football.london): “Bukayo is doing better, but he will be out for a few weeks. 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.”

In the same game, Martin Odegaard was substituted in the opening half with a shoulder problem.

When pressed on the captain’s condition, Arteta added that the Norwegian has not trained yet and could be assessed during tomorrow’s scheduled session.

He added: “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.”

Kai Havertz underwent surgery for a knee injury yesterday, and Arteta anticipates the German will be out for weeks rather than an extended period of several months.

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

Ben White and Christian Norgaard were the other absentees last weekend. Like Odegaard, Arteta has said that the duo could be assessed in Saturday’s training session.

Arsenal have an exceptional record against the ‘Big Six’ in the Premier League over recent years. They are unbeaten in 22 straight games with 13 wins and nine draws.

Despite this, the club have not been victorious at Anfield since September 2012. They came close few years ago, but shared the spoils despite leading 2-0 at one stage.

The absence of Saka, Havertz and possibly Odegaard seems a huge setback, but Arteta now has more quality and depth in the squad after the summer spending spree.

In Viktor Gyokeres, he has an elite striker to lead the attack, while summer signings Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke could have big roles to play against the Reds on Sunday.

Gabriel Martinelli was an unused substitute against Leeds, but he could be a trump card for the Gunners, having made eight goal contributions from 12 meetings against the Reds.

Sunday’s game promises to be an entertainer and hopefully, Arsenal will come on the winning side.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

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