Mikel Arteta gives Bukayo Saka update for Arsenal ahead of Brighton and Bayern Munich

Bukayo Saka's availability for the weekend remains something of a mystery. Mikel Arteta was facing the press ahead of Arsenal’s game against Brighton in the Premier League.

The match is a chance once again to put the pressure on Liverpool and return to the top of the table with the Reds facing Manchester United on Sunday. However, the Seagulls have lost just one home league game this season and will be a tough challenge.

It is also the final game before the Gunners host Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Therefore having as fit a squad as possible is vital for the Spaniard to have the options to navigate this hectic fixture schedule.

On Saka, who missed the game with Luton Town, despite completing some training activities on Tuesday afternoon, Arteta was coy about his availability. He said: «We will know now, with our training session in a few hours. We will know whether he is fit or not.»

Asked about how he sees the potential of burnout he was dismissed. He said: «No. I am super positive. I think he is going to fly and be so decisive.»

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He was pressed on how he assesses his ability to recover: «Yeah. I think [my confidence is] because he is so strong, how much he wants it when you talk to him and how excited he is about what is coming. He wants to be there and he is getting better and better.

»It is normal, you have little niggles, you have kicks. He has gone through a lot of that in the last two or three years, and look at the way he is performing."

Arsenal take on Brighton at the Amex Stadium at 5:30pm UK Time. We will be covering