Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber pictured with Arsenal squad ahead of Liverpool showdown

Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber have both been spotted with the Arsenal squad ahead of Sunday’s Premier League summit meeting with Liverpool.

The Gunners have been sweating on the fitness of the England winger who has missed the last two games after he picked up a muscle injury playing for England earlier this month.

Timber, too, missed last week’s defeat against Bournemouth and fears he would be unable to play a part in what is being billed as must-win game against Arne Slot’s in-form Reds were sparked after he was left out of the Netherland’s squad for their upcoming Nations League games.

Mikel Arteta was coy on Friday when asked if two of his key men were likely to feature but both were present with their teammates as they checked in at the team hotel on Saturday evening.

Regardless of who is able to start, do not expect Arteta to make injuries an excuse should his side suffer a second defeat in succession.

‘This is the game, you know, obviously, we didn’t want to be in that situation, but we are really lucky as well to have the squad that we have, to have the players that we have, to have the attitude that we have,’ said Arteta, issuing something of a rallying cry at his pre-match press conference.

‘When it comes down to reacting against a difficult situation and don’t feel sorry for ourselves, face it. We are a team that we know how good we are as well and how difficult we can be for the opponent.

‘And having that ruthless mentality in the team is something that I love.’

William Saliba’s suspension means Arsenal will be without one half of their central defensive partnership, but Arteta is confident he has excellent options at his disposal.

‘Yeah, well, obviously we had so much going on, especially in the backline,’ he said. The first few months of the season, we had to adapt to that.

‘That’s why we have as well, some versatile players that have been really, really helpful. But, yeah, ideally would have other options as well and more consistency, but that’s the situation that we have at the moment.

‘We have different options, players that have already played there before. It’s true that that partnership has been very stable as you said, he’s played every single moment.

‘He’s not available, we have to find a different solution which is something that, as a team, we need to be good at as well.

Slot, meanwhile, has made a sensational start to his Liverpool tenure having won 11 of his first 12 games in charge.

‘Yes, very good,’ he said of the Dutchman’s impact.’They’re obviously in a really good moment, they’re on a great run and you can see the touch that he’s given to a team that was already very strong, but you can see his fingerprints on that team.’