Major Arsenal injury worry confirmed just a week before huge Liverpool clash

Arsenal is as Mikel Arteta's team takes on Bournemouth in the day's late kick-off, with the Gunners facing Liverpool in a massive battle at the top of the table next weekend.

Saka picked up a muscle injury during the England game with Greece last week with also without captain Martin Odegaard at the moment through a more serious setback. Arteta said that the Saka issue was not too serious in the build-up to the game but he now faces a race against time to be fit in time to play against at the Emirates Stadium next weekend.

In Saka's absence, Raheem Sterling comes into the team. He is likely to play off the right-hand side with Belgian winger Leandro Trossard on the left. Kai Havertz is central with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli both options off the bench. Odegaard hasn't played since the end of August.

Jurrien Timber is also sidelined for Arsenal at the moment, but Oleksandr Zinchencko has returned to the matchday squad today and Benjamin White is back in at right-back. Arteta will hope that Saka can be involved on Tuesday when Arsenal takes on Shakhtar Donetsk in the . That will be another injury clue before the huge Liverpool clash.

"Hopefully we have some positive news today and we have some players back tomorrow," Arteta had said in the build-up to the Premier League returning. On Saka, he said: "He is evolving really well. He has done a few things in the last two days. We are hopeful."

Liverpool.com says: It would be a major blow for Arsenal to be without Saka if that is to happen but it sounds like he has a decent chance of being back to face Liverpool. That game could help decide the shape of the Premier League title race this season but the Reds will need to beat Chelsea first to ensure that is the narrative heading into next Sunday's clash.