Saka boost for Arsenal ahead of Liverpool?

The winger has been sidelined for the past two matches after suffering a hamstring strain during international duty.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of England reacts as he leaves the field to be substituted after receiving medical treatment to an injury during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Greece at Wembley Stadium on October 10, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

While Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed doubts about Saka’s availability, citing after the game against Shakhtar the fact that he is yet to participate in full training, there remains a glimmer of hope according to reports in multiple UK newspapers on Thursday.

Should Saka be able to ramp up his recovery over the next few days, he could find himself back in contention for this vital encounter.

Arteta’s challenges are compounded by the significant injury concerns across his squad.

Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, remains unavailable due to ankle ligament damage sustained in September while playing for Norway, and he is not expected back until November.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal reacts after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on May 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Jurrien Timber is another defensive casualty, having sustained a muscular injury earlier this month against Paris Saint-Germain.

Although there was hope that Timber could return in time for the fixture against Shakhtar, he ultimately did not make it into full training.

With the Dutch international likely to remain sidelined, Arteta’s defensive options are increasingly limited.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: Jurrien Timber of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on August 24, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Additionally, doubts linger over Riccardo Calafiori’s fitness, as he continues to undergo assessments following a twisted knee that forced him off in the Champions League victory against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Gunners will also be without William Saliba, who received a red card during the frustrating 2-0 loss at Bournemouth, adding further strain on Arsenal’s already depleted backline which is missing Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney, too.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND: William Saliba of Arsenal leaves the pitch after receiving a red card, as Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, gestures during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on October 19, 2024. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

This might require Arteta to shuffle his plans, potentially deploying Thomas Partey as a makeshift right-back as we saw in the second half midweek, with Ben White stepping into the centre to cover for Saliba.

Arsenal’s struggle for form post-international break has been evident, with a noticeable drop in intensity and sharpness. The absence of Odegaard and Saka has clearly been a factor, depriving the team of dynamism and a cutting edge.

The Gunners have looked particularly blunt without the pair, lacking that creative spark to unlock defences.

Gabriel Martinelli has provided some solace with his recent performances, and has scored three goals in his last four matches against Liverpool, but Odegaard and Saka’s influence remain irreplaceable for Arteta’s side.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal shoots which results in a Arsenal goal, a own goal scored by Dmytro Riznyk of FC Shakhtar Donetsk (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Speaking on Martinelli’s form, Arteta remarked, “He looked really sharp against Shakhtar, really fresh as well,” which is a boost for Arsenal’s hopes in the absence of other key players.

Still, Liverpool represents a significant challenge. Under manager Arne Slot, the Merseyside club has looked revitalised as they head into a tough run of fixtures for the first time this season.

Should Arsenal fail to take three points from this clash, they will find themselves trailing Liverpool by seven points—a gap that could prove difficult to bridge as the campaign progresses. The stakes are high, and for Arteta, the potential return of Saka could be the difference between challenging for the title or slipping further behind.

The next 48 hours are crucial for Saka’s recovery, with Arsenal’s medical team closely monitoring his progress. Arteta has made it clear that no unnecessary risks will be taken, but if the winger is able to train at full intensity, he could be Arsenal’s wild card for this pivotal fixture.