Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber are both with the Arsenal squad ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool, though their inclusion in the lineup remains unconfirmed.
Arsenal face a few injury concerns before Sunday’s match against Liverpool, with Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber leading the list. Both players had been absent from training until recently, but there was optimism that they might return in time for the weekend’s game. Those hopes have now been lifted, as both Saka and Timber were seen with the Arsenal squad ahead of the clash. 
An Arsenal fan posted photos on Twitter of Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber arriving with the squad at their pre-match hotel. Arsenal players typically stay together the night before a match, even for home games. However, this doesn’t guarantee that either player is fit to start—or even to make the squad. Last season, Saka stayed with the team at the hotel ahead of the home game against Manchester City but didn’t make the squad, reportedly to keep City guessing. It’s possible Saka and Timber’s presence this time could be another tactical move to throw off Liverpool’s preparations. 
Riccardo Calafiori appears to be unavailable, as he was neither seen in training nor with the squad, confirming recent injury reports from Italian media. Additionally, Martin Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney are sidelined due to injuries, and William Saliba is out due to suspension.
Odegaard gives update on his recovery
In his program notes before the Liverpool match, Martin Odegaard shared an update on his recovery: “I’ve been sidelined for a few weeks now but have been working hard to return as soon as possible. Like I mentioned earlier this week, I feel it’s getting closer. Even though I haven’t been in the recent games, I think I’ve made good use of this time. “Honestly, my days haven’t changed much. I’m still at the training ground daily, putting in long hours with our excellent medical and fitness team and spending a lot of time in the gym. I’m usually exhausted by the end of each day. “I’ve also stayed connected with the team, attending prep meetings and staying involved. The matchdays have been different—there’s less travel, so I’ve had more time at home, which has been great for getting rest. “My goal is to come back fresher and stronger, ready for the rest of the season. I’m focusing on the positives and using this period wisely, and I’m confident I’ll be feeling great when I’m back.”
Current Arsenal Injury List
Arsenal injuries overview
Overview:
- Riccardo Calafiori: Right knee, assessments ongoing, doubtful for Liverpool.
- Takehiro Tomiyasu: Unknown injury status.
- Bukayo Saka: Hamstring injury, assessments ongoing, “unlikely” for Liverpool.
- Jurrien Timber: Muscular injury, doubtful for Liverpool.
- Martin Odegaard: Ankle sprain, expected return in November (8 weeks).
- Kieran Tierney: Hamstring injury, currently in training, expected return in October 2024.
Injury Details:
Riccardo Calafiori
- Injury: Right knee
- Status: Undergoing assessments
- Out Since: Injury sustained against Shakhtar Donetsk
- Expected Return: Unknown
Calafiori suffered a knee injury during Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk after slipping awkwardly, resulting in a hyperextension. Although he attempted to continue after medical intervention, he was ultimately substituted. His availability for the upcoming match against Liverpool remains uncertain, and Mikel Arteta has expressed concern regarding the injury’s severity, which could impact the team during a challenging fixture schedule. Recent reports from Italy suggest that initial fears of a long-term absence have been alleviated, as tests indicate a minor medial collateral ligament issue. This means Calafiori may only be sidelined for a few weeks. Arteta commented on October 25th: “He needs some more tests. Yesterday he had some, and today he’s going to have some more.”
Takehiro Tomiyasu
- Injury: Unknown
- Status: Undergoing assessments
- Out Since: Injured during the October international break
- Expected Return: Unknown
Recent reports have circulated regarding another setback for Takehiro Tomiyasu, which was confirmed by Arteta on Friday. “Yeah, we don’t know how long he’ll be out for,” Arteta stated. “It doesn’t look like it will be a long period, but we’ll have to assess how he reacts to the load and impact on the pitch when he returns. We really need him back; the effort he put in to get back was impressive, but now he has another challenge.”
Bukayo Saka
- Injury: Hamstring
- Status: Withdrawn early from England’s game against Greece
- Out Since: England vs. Greece, October 10
- Expected Return: Unknown
Bukayo Saka sustained a hamstring injury during the match against Greece, leading to his withdrawal from international duty. Lee Carsley initially remarked: “He’s being assessed. In the buildup to the first goal, you could see he felt something in his leg.” On October 12th, Carsley added, “Bukayo would have been close to playing against Finland, but it would have been unfair to take a risk with him. He’s positive, and I expect him to recover.” Reports indicated that Saka hoped to feature for Arsenal against Bournemouth.
Ahead of that game, Mikel Arteta noted, “It’s not a serious injury. He’s making good progress. He was likely fit enough to play in the second game for the national team, and we’re hopeful.” However, Saka did not make the squad, with Arteta explaining, “We tried the last few days, but he didn’t feel right. There was no reason to push him; we have strong options available.”
Before the match against Shakhtar, Arteta said, “Let’s see how Bukayo is after today’s training session.” Unfortunately, he missed training and was not included in the squad. Following Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 victory at the Emirates, Arteta provided another update: “He wasn’t able to train yet, so that’s unlikely,” when asked about Saka’s availability for Liverpool. On October 25th, Arteta stated, “He’s done some training on the grass. How far we can get him ready before Sunday is another question. We will see.”
Jurrien Timber
- Injury: Muscular
- Status: Substituted early against PSG after feeling discomfort
- Out Since: PSG match on October 1
- Expected Return: Possibly for the Shakhtar match
Jurrien Timber was substituted at half-time during Arsenal’s home fixture against Paris Saint-Germain after experiencing a muscular issue. Mikel Arteta noted that Timber “felt something muscular” and decided against taking any risks. As the team prepared for the game against Shakhtar, Arteta remarked, “He’s going to be close. We need to see how he handles training with the group; it was a muscular injury.” On October 25th, Arteta added, “This was the first session where he could participate. He’s been out for a while, and we anticipated he would be further along.”
Martin Odegaard
- Injury: Ankle ligament damage
- Status: Out
- Out Since: Injury sustained during Norway vs. Austria on September 9, 2024
- Expected Return: November
Despite Martin Odegaard’s optimistic outlook on his recovery, Norway manager Stale Solbakken provided a more measured update. While Odegaard expressed he was making “good progress” and hoped to return soon, Solbakken cautioned, “There is significant improvement regarding pain and injury, but he is still a long way from match fitness.”
He emphasized that the timeline for Odegaard’s return remains under Arsenal’s control. Before the Bournemouth match, Arteta stated, “He won’t be fit for this game, but next week should be different. He needs to achieve some key markers in the latter stages of his rehab, making next week critical.” Ahead of the Shakhtar game, Arteta confirmed that while Odegaard is not yet fit, he is making strides toward recovery.
Kieran Tierney
- Injury: Hamstring
- Status: In individual training
- Out Since: June 19, 2024
- Expected Return: October 2024
Kieran Tierney has begun individual training following a hamstring injury he sustained during Euro 2024. He recently shared updates on Instagram, showing his progress as he runs at London Colney. Although he hasn’t yet rejoined full team sessions, the Scotland international is moving closer to making a return.
Source: https://dailycannon.com/arsenal-injury-updates/