Arsenal injury latest as Arteta sweats on Saliba after statement released

Arsenal have sustained a number of injury issues across the opening weeks of the Premier League season and Mikel Arteta will be hopeful of a few strick stars returning after the international break

It’s been a brutal start to the Premier League season for Arsenal. Not only have they had a testing run of fixtures, but the Gunners have also sustained a number of injuries.

The most recent blow came in the form of William Saliba, the Frenchman limping off during the opening stages of Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool. And as a result, he has been omitted from international duty.

A statement from the French national team read: "William Saliba, who started for Arsenal against Liverpool on Sunday, was forced off in the fifth minute. He will not be able to honour his call-up for the first training camp of the season. He is suffering from a sprained left ankle.

"After a discussion with Franck Le Gall, the French team doctor, Didier Deschamps confirmed the unavailability of William Saliba. The national coach has decided to call up Benjamin Pavard as a reinforcement."

Bukayo Saka is also one of Arsenal’s recent injuries. The England winger picked up a hamstring issue against Leeds, with his return planned for October.

Meanwhile, German forward Kai Havertz is also set to join his attacking colleague on the sidelines. The former Chelsea man has already undergone surgery for an issue he picked up on the opening day of the campaign.

But Mikel Arteta is hopeful that his lay-off won’t be for too long. He said: "I think it will be weeks, but I don't know how many months.

"Very unfortunate, very sad for him. I think he did tremendously well to recover from the previous one. He's never had an injury before. And suddenly this happens, but this is our profession, our football.

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"We need to live with that. Obviously, we lose another big player for many, many weeks. But it was the right thing to do. The doctors advised and I think he was very convinced at the end that it was the quickest and the best way to resolve that issue.

"Every time there is a surgery you expect something like this. I'll leave that for the medical staff to explain in detail what it was. But hopefully the most important thing is when he gets back he's in good condition - and maybe in a long time he'll be protected by the players.”

There is more positive news for Martin Odegaard, Christian Norgaard and Ben White. Arsenal’s captain was named on the bench vs Liverpool, making a late cameo. Norgaard and White are expected to return after the international break.

Finally, long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus has been sidelined since January with a serious knee injury and is not expected to return any time soon. Arsenal have confirmed that they have left the Brazilian out of their squad for the Champions League group stage.