Arsenal's injury news is mixed: Eberechi Eze may face Slavia Praha, Bukayo Saka is out indefinitely and William Saliba has an MRI due next week.
Arsenal's injury list reads like a balance sheet with one asset recovering, one written off for now and one still being valued.
The Standard's latest Arsenal injury update brings mixed news ahead of Wednesday's trip to Slavia Praha and Saturday's home game against Hull before the second international break.
Eberechi Eze is the good news, just. He stayed on the bench throughout the win over Liverpool, and Mikel Arteta said afterwards: "We had an issue with Ebs as well that it was incredible that he was in the squad today." His potential return is Wednesday's trip to Slavia, with a further update expected after Tuesday's open training session.
Bukayo Saka has a quad injury and is out indefinitely. He is not expected to play against Slavia or Hull. Arteta said: "Afterwards we'll know more about it." No return date has been given.
William Saliba has not played for Arsenal this season, because of a long-term back problem he aggravated with France at the World Cup finals. He has avoided surgery and is back on grass in individual training. Another MRI is booked for next week, with December the potential target.
The key numbers are two matches, one scan and one "unknown". The update leaves key details unresolved, and those details decide how deep this squad is by December. Who pays if the squad runs thin is a question for later.
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Sources
Meanwhile at the desk
Eze's return date is printed as Wednesday, with an update after Tuesday's open training. Saka's says unknown. That is a poker face, and I respect it.
Arteta praised the medical team for getting Eze into the squad against Liverpool, a game Arsenal won. Two games, one scan, no Saka. The margins he talks about are getting thinner.
