Arteta gives fitness update on Saka, Madueke, Tzolis

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given an update on the fitness of Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Christos Tzolis ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield. The Gunners are second in the table with 21 points from eight matches.

Saka, who has scored three goals in seven appearances this season, underwent another scan to assess an injury. Arteta said the results were encouraging but that more information would follow.

"He needed another scan to see how the amount of fluid that was there was resolving," the boss said on Saka, "[we needed to know] whether the tendon is touched and how badly it is touched." He added: "That's all fine, and afterwards we'll know more about it. We want to have him as quick as possible. The player is desperate, he's feeling much better than he was a few days ago."

Asked whether Saka could return before the international break, Arteta was cautiously optimistic. "He looks like it; we need to wait and see how he evolves."

Madueke has played most of the minutes on the right wing in Saka's absence. The England winger missed Tuesday's trip to Fleetwood but could return to the squad for Sunday's game. "We don't know yet," Arteta said at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday afternoon. "We'll have a training session tomorrow."

Calafiori, Declan Rice and Tzolis are also targeting a return to the squad this Sunday. Arteta said all three trained on Friday afternoon. "They all trained today and they will train tomorrow. If everything is OK, they will be available."