Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta issues worrying Bukayo Saka injury update after Shakhtar absence

boss has issued an update on injury. The winger was absent from the squad to face Shakhtar in the on Tuesday and the Spaniard has offered some insight into his potential return.

Saka picked up a hamstring injury on international duty and missed the 2-0 defeat at on Saturday. The 23-year-old was also not amongst the 20-man squad for their European fixture at the Emirates tonight.

When asked about Saka's omission from the squad and potential return, Arteta offered no guarantees that the Gunners star would be fit in time for their crunch game with Liverpool on Sunday.

"At the moment I'm not very helpful. Let's see," Arteta told Amazon Prime Sport. "We still have a few days [before facing Liverpool]."

Saka at Wembley with an apparent hamstring issue. Shortly after, it was confirmed he had withdrawn from the squad and returned to Arsenal to undergo further assessment.

But the north London side have kept their cards close to their chest in revealing a timeline for their key man to return to action. On Friday, Arteta provided a positive update and indicated Saka was recovering well.

It offered some hope he could be fit to face Bournemouth. However, Saka did not make the squad at the Vitality Stadium .

"We tried the last few days but he didn't have the right feeling. There was no point pushing him and we have very good options as well," Arteta said before the weekend.

Asked again in his press conference before facing Shakhtar, Arteta hinted Saka was getting "closer" and "progressing really well". But once again, it appears he was not deemed fit enough to make an appearance.

Following the injury, England interim boss initially said Saka could have played the second of England's games, a 3-1 win over Finland.

"Bukayo would have been close but it would have been unfair to take a risk with him," Carsley said ahead of the meeting with Finland. "He's a positive person and I expect him to be fine."

But that initial prognosis might well have been ambitious now that Saka has missed two games and potentially a third if he fails to recover in time to face Liverpool.

In any case, Arsenal will be desperate to get their right-sided forward back in the team as soon as possible as they look to avoid a second consecutive defeat in the Premier League.