Saka, Timber - Arsenal injury news and return dates for Brighton with nervy Mikel Arteta wait

Arsenal are closing in on having a fully fit squad as they seek to return to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday. The Gunners travel to Brighton and could be third by kick-off but that could all change once again.

With Liverpool not in action until Sunday evening against Manchester United, Mikel Arteta's men have an opportunity to pile the pressure on their title rivals. Having played on Wednesday night against Luton Town, a refreshed and rested squad will be put to task on the south coast.

Roberto De Zerbi's side were only able to draw 0-0 with Brentford in mid-week and have now won just two of their last eight games. At home it is only one league defeat all season though — just two in all competitions — and Arsenal will need to use their squad smartly ahead of the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich to come.

Arteta has little to worry about after resting a core group of players for the win over the Hatters. However, it is all eyes on Bukayo Saka as he edges towards a return.

Here,football.london has the latest from the Arsenal treatment room.

Injury: Muscular

Saka was taken off late on against Manchester City, limping from the field with a physio alongside him. Arteta downplayed worries after the match and ahead of Luton with the attacker taking part in training ahead of the game.

However, Saka was not involved on Wednesday in a heavily rotated XI after failing a fitness test, football.london understands. It is believed that his absence is not thought to be much of a worry, though, as he recovers from a muscular issue picked up before the break.

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