Eight players could miss Arsenal vs Bournemouth as Mikel Arteta provides update

Mikel Arteta as provided his final squad fitness update ahead of Saturday's clutch Premier League showdown against Bournemouth

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered his final team news update ahead of Saturday's lunchtime kick-off against Bournemouth. And it could see as many as six first-team stars miss out after the Gunners had to deal with a rash of absences for Tuesday's Champions League win over Sporting CP.

Arteta has confirmed Eberechi Eze is back "available" for the visit of Bournemouth after missing the midweek win in Lisbon: "He is available. He has [been ahead of schedule], my first conversation with him after he felt a niggle, he wanted to be available the next week, we knew that was impossible.

"But the recovery, the will that he's shown from day one to get back as quick as possible, how he's pushed the medical staff and himself to be there tomorrow, it's just great to watch."

It's not all positive news, however, as Arteta proved more cryptic while discussing several other members of his squad. And football.london breaks down the latest team news ahead of a must-win matchup for the league leaders.

The most pressing concerns at hand for Arsenal concern captain Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie. That's after all five names missed Thursday's opening training session to spark fears ahead of the Premier League return.

Of those, Odegaard and Calafiori each started in the win over Sporting. Calafiori played the entire 90 minutes in Lisbon, while Odegaard was withdrawn after 70 minutes and replaced by goalscorer Kai Havertz.

When pressed about whether any of that group would be ready to return having missed training, Arteta said on Friday: "There have been changes since yesterday, yes."

A typically ambiguous answer from a manager in the running for title honours and wanting to keep his cards close to his chest. However, it's worth pointing out those words don't carry the same certainty Arteta was willing to admit regarding Eze's condition.

As it stands, it leaves big question marks over whether any will be involved against the Cherries. The situation regarding Mikel Merino is more concrete, with the Spaniard still on the comeback trail following the foot fracture he suffered in January.

"Well he's another one who is going to push every boundary," Arteta said of his countryman during Friday's pre-match presser. "He's out of the boot now. He's doing a lot of exercises already.

"He reacted well to the surgery and he has no pain. "I am sure there is a chance to make that period shorter."

Bournemouth injuries

As for Bournemouth, the two most notable names who look set to sit out the trip to north London are Justin Kluivert and Lewis Cook. Netherlands international Kluivert underwent knee surgery in early January and is racing to play again this season.

"Justin, I think, is doing a very good recovery,” said Iraola said at a press conference on Friday. "He is on the time margins that we expected. Everything is going fine.

"But he’s in a rush because he wants to play before the season ends. He also wants to keep his options for the World Cup alive.”

He added: "We have to give the time that the injury needs. I hope he can play before the season ends. It’s not going to be easy. He will have to progress as well as he’s doing, because he is doing very well."

Cook is also out for the visit to Arsenal, though Julio Soler appears to have recovered after a return to training this week. He's back in the selection alongside Tyler Adams, Ben Gannon-Doak, Alex Jimenez and Junior Kroupi, the latter two of whom appear fit after suffering sligt knocks on international duty.