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Four Arsenal players absent from training after latest Bukayo Saka update
Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium and the Gunners are sweating on the fitness of Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard
Mikel Arteta is preparing Arsenal for this weekend’s match against Sunderland
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber were all absent from Arsenal training on Thursday morning ahead of the club’s Premier League clash against Sunderland.
Saka has been missing since hobbling out of the warm-up at Elland Road last weekend when he appeared to pick up a hip issue.
The England international had to withdraw from the starting XI and he also sat out of Tuesday evening’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final second leg triumph over rivals Chelsea.
Ahead of the game, Mikel Arteta revealed Saka would be undergoing further tests on Wednesday to determine a potential injury timeline.
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Reports have indicated he’s facing several weeks on the sidelines and that the attacker is targeting a return for the North London Derby against Tottenham.
Arteta has sounded more positive on the issue though and has indicated that Saka could soon return to action.
Meanwhile, Odegaard’s issue is believed to be minor and there’s hope he could yet be back to face the Black Category
is, Arsenal will only train once more before they face Sunderland this weekend, so Odegaard is evidently facing a race against the clock to prove his fitness.
Timber may well be resting following another tough shift at right-back against the Blues in which he helped Arsenal keep a clean sheet.
The other unsurprising absentee was Mikel Merino, who is due to undergo surgery after suffering a fractured bone in his foot.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka picked up an injury in the warm-up at Leeds
There’s optimism the Spaniard will be back before the end of the season, though it’s still not guaranteed he’ll be ready in time for the World Cup.
Arsenal are facing a busy February. After Sunderland they travel across London to Brentford in the Premier League. They then host Wigan Athletic in FA Cup fourth round action before travelling to Wolves.
Molineux was a scene of controversy last season as Myles Lewis-Skelly was shown a questionable straight red card before Riccardo Calafiori struck the winner for 10-man Arsenal. The Gunners then travel to Tottenham before hosting Chelsea on March
Arsenal dropped points at the death against Sunderland back in November when Brian Brobbey snatched a point for the hosts deep into stoppage time at the Stadium of Light.
Saka and Leandro Trossard were both on target for the Gunners, who had trailed to former academy starlet Dan Ballard’s opener.

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GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Man City (Szoboszlai, 74)
HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!
An absolutely sensational free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai. This one might be even better than the one against Arsenal.
From a central position, around 25 yards out, it’s an absolutely sensational hit which swerves out of reach of Donnarumma, who doesn’t even dive, and slams into the net off the post.
Amazing. And what could that mean for the title race? Arsenal staying nine points clear as it stands.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Man City (Szoboszlai, 74)
HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!
An absolutely sensational free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai. This one might be even better than the one against Arsenal.
From a central position, around 25 yards out, it’s an absolutely sensational hit which swerves out of reach of Donnarumma, who doesn’t even dive, and slams into the net off the post.
Amazing. And what could that mean for the title race? Arsenal staying nine points clear as it stLiverpool vs Man City LIVE! Premier League match updates, news, score, stream and highlights – live on Sky Sports
Sunday 8 February 2026 18:05, UK
Second Half: Liverpool 1-0 Man City – live on Sky
Szoboszlai scores OUTRAGEOUS free-kick! View post
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Liverpool FC team news vs. Man City: 6 defenders unavailable for Arne Slot
Liverpool have six defenders unavailable for their game against Man City, with Arne Slot‘s hand forced at centre-back and right-back.
Liverpool are down to their bare bones at the back, with six defenders unable to start as the Reds try to keep pace with their top-four competitors in the Premier League.
Liverpool Injury & Absentee List
PlayerInjury TypeStatusExpected ReturnJoe GomezKneeDoubtMan City (H)Jeremie FrimpongGroinUnavailableEarly MarchConor BradleyKnee (Surgery)UnavailablePre-season 2026Giovanni LeoniACL (Surgery)UnavailableNext seasonAlexander IsakFibula FractureUnavailableLate MarchStefan BajceticHamstringRehabLate FebruaryJayden DannsHamstringRehabFebruaryWellity LuckyHamstringUnavailableApril
Joe Gomez‘s fitness is the main talking point ahead of the match at Anfield, given his presence would provide cover at centre-back and full-back.
He didn’t train on Thursday, though, and Slot explained: “We have a little bit of hope that he might train on Saturday.
“So not available to start, but maybe available to help the team if needed during the game because, as you know, there are not that many defenders available at the moment.”
With Giovanni Leoni out until next season, academy defenders Amara Nallo and Wellity Lucky have made the bench in the Premier League a combined five times this season.
The latter is injured, however, so unable to come in against Man City.
Nallo got injured during Tuesday’s UEFA Youth League exit to MSK Zilina, but was named to start for the U21s on Saturday, meaning he will not be available at Anfield.
As for Lucky’s injury, the 20-year-old is set to be sidelined until April due to a hamstring injury sustained in training midway through January.
Also on Liverpool’s list of absentees is right-back Conor Bradley, who will miss the rest of the campaign.
Like Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong is currently injured but his outlook is more positive than his teammate’s.
Slot gave a brief update on the flying Dutchman’s fitness, saying he “will definitely not train this week” due to his ongoing groin problem.
With Nallo featuring at academy level, Liverpool will be without six defensive options against Man City.
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Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Robertson, Ramsay
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Endo, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike, Ngumoha, Chiesa
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