Bukayo Saka injury update as Arsenal sweat on five players for Man City clash

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Arsenal are trying to get their injured stars - Bukayo Saka, captain Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori - back as quickly as possible while Noni Madueke was also forced off against Sporting CP

Bukayo Saka is racing against the clock to prove his fitness in time for Arsenal's unmissable clash against Manchester City this weekend.

The 24-year-old attacker is currently sidelined with an Achilles problem and has not played for club or country since the end of March when he started the Carabao Cup final.

While Saka is doing everything he can to get back on the pitch, he's dealing with a delicate fitness issue, believed to be Achilles tendinopathy.

Therefore, there is reluctance to rush him back as Arsenal could risk losing him for the remainder of the campaign.

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He is yet to be ruled out of Sunday's contest and Arteta said on Tuesday that he hoped his star forward was just a "matter of days" away from returning to the fold.

Arteta remarked during his press conference: "It's something that he was carrying for a while. It was an Achilles issue. It's progression but hopefully it's going to be a matter of days and not weeks. But he has to see when the load is more how he responds to that kind of progression."

Arsenal are hopeful Noni Madueke has avoided a knee injury after he was forced off after the break against Sporting following a firm challenge.

Madueke did not go down the tunnel after being substituted and was also able to join his team-mates as they completed their lap of honour at the Emirates Stadium.

Sources close to Riccardo Calafiori have also told football.london that he has a chance of returning against City this weekend following a recent knock sustained in the first leg against Sporting.

Jurrien Timber's injury status is currently unknown as he has not featured since the 2-0 home triumph over Everton on March 14.

Timber was asked on Saturday after the 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth whether he'd be ready to return against City, to which he replied: "I can't say. But we'll see."

He also confirmed he was "recovering" as he looks to rebuild his fitness following a groin problem.

Meanwhile, captain Martin Odegaard confirmed in his Arsenal programme notes that he tweaked his knee - the same knee that has caused him recent problems - during last week's 1-0 win at Sporting when he was forced off in Lisbon.

The Norwegian also noted that he's working hard to return as quickly as possible following a string of recent setbacks.