Bukayo Saka to miss several weeks as Arsenal receive Konsa and Saliba boost

Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for several weeks with a quad injury, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expects Ezri Konsa and William Saliba to be available when the Premier League leaders face Hull on Saturday.

Saka was withdrawn during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich last month and was subsequently omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming international fixtures.

“Obviously, we’re talking about weeks, let’s say after the international break,” Arteta said on Friday.

“He’s going to start hitting the pitch and start to have more activity and see how he feels, but unfortunately he’s going to be out for a while.”

There is more encouraging news over Konsa, who was substituted during Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League win against Slavia Prague.

Arteta confirmed that the defender is fit to face Hull, despite being taken off in Prague.

Saliba is also nearing a return after being named in the squad for the first time this season for the match in the Czech Republic. The France international did not play as he continues his recovery from a back injury.

France coach Zinedine Zidane could decide to select Saliba for the upcoming international fixtures. Arteta said Arsenal would accept whatever decision was made and would not attempt to influence the call.

“They have all the information. Now it’s about them, about Zinedine in this case, to give the call,” Arteta said.

“We will accept whatever it is. It’s more between them because William needs minutes as well.”

Arteta also highlighted Saliba’s desire to return to international football and work with the new France manager.

“I know how much he loves to be around the national team. It’s a new manager, a really exciting one as well, so whatever he’s decided is fine for us,” he added.

Arsenal will have five players in Tuchel’s latest England squad. Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice and Konsa have all been selected.

The number of English players involved with the national team is something Arteta regards as an important part of Arsenal’s identity.

“It is a proud thing to have a big English core in the national team,” he said.

“Our club, it is something that is part of our identity. They are super happy to be back, you can see that.”