Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka wants to play against Chelsea on Saturday but is yet to make a decision on whether he is fit enough to return to the team.
Saka missed the win over Manchester City prior to the international break after suffering a hamstring injury in the Champions League defeat to RC Lens and was also forced to withdraw from the England squad.
But Arteta says the winger is fighting to be fit to play against Chelsea.
“He’s been working so hard to be fit for this game,” Arteta said.
“Let’s see where he is today.
“I’m sure he wants to play. I don’t see any players that don’t want to be in the starting 11.
“I do have an idea (of the starting XI) but I have to see them all together today and how everybody is because we have a lot of people travelling around the world and with a lot of minutes in the legs.
“I want to judge what is the best for tomorrow, not only in terms of what I want to do tactically but also how the energy is, how the mood is, how the spirit is. In order to that, I will have a better clue after the session today.”
William Saliba is also a doubt for the game because of a toe injury which forced him to withdraw from the France squad.
“Hopefully not, but obviously he’s been carrying that for weeks now,” Arteta said when asked if the injury could continue to be an issue for the rest of the season.
“We had to use that time (the international break) to settle and we believed it was the best moment to do it.
“It depends, again, on how he’s able to train today.”
Leandro Trossard could also miss out because of a hamstring injury.
