Arteta to offer key fitness updates

Arsenal have been troubled by injuries despite good start

It's been a near perfect start to the season for Arsenal.

The Gunners are on a 10 match unbeaten run, have not conceded a goal for five games and are four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta could not have planned for a better beginning to this campaign with the loss to Liverpool, coming from an excellent free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, the one defeat they have suffered.

And Arteta has had some difficult fitness issues to overcome. Already this season Arsenal have been without Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba through injury.

Havertz is the one long-term problem but Odegaard has suffered two shoulder injuries and it is hoped he will return in November after a knee issue.

Arsenal brought in eight players in the summer with the hope of increasing the quality options in the squad so that when a starter dropped out of the team, the level did not drop.

They have achieved that but it has gone better than even sporting director Andrea Berta could have hoped.

Arteta does have fresh concerns though. Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and William Saliba all had to be withdrawn in the win over Crystal Palace with knocks, while Gabriel Martinelli limped down the tunnel.

Arsenal have Brighton up next in the Carabao Cup and although they have depth in the squad this year, they will hope the updates Arteta gives on the fitness of the players with knocks means they are back available as soon as possible.