Latest Arsenal injury news as four players could miss Man City with Bukayo Saka update expected

Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side have a big week ahead of them as a visit to Manchester City looms large. The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in the first game back after the international break in the hope of creating a four-point gap between themselves and the title favourites.

Pep Guardiola's side will start the game in third, while Arsenal could drop down to second if Liverpool win against Brighton earlier in the afternoon. With no easy welcome back to domestic action, Arteta will need to make the most of time at the training ground this week.

Perhaps fortunately, a large group of his squad have remained behind at the Sobha Realty Training Ground too. Although the host of withdrawals and minor knocks creates a slight panic in the fanbase ahead of such a key fixture, it leaves Arteta and Arsenal in total control of their rehabilitation and recovery in the lead-up.

Outside of Jurrien Timber, who wasn't selected by Holland, having not played a minute of competitive football since August, it was deemed too soon for him to return. However, the Dutchman has been training with his teammates for the past few weeks and is closer than ever to getting back.

Timber wasn't spotted with the remaining squad during the last set of training pictures released. This isn't thought to be related to a setback, fortunately.

He wasn't part of the small first-team presence felt in a heavy friendly defeat to Queens Park Rangers last week, maybe indicating just where he was. football.london understands it is too soon to know if he will be fit for the game against City and is one to be monitored.

Two senior players were involved in the match against QPR, though. After Thomas Partey decided against taking on the call to duty from Ghana