Mikel Arteta drops positive Arsenal injury hint as update issued on four absent players

Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on his squad ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest

Mikel Arteta has hinted Arsenal's ranks could well be bolstered by the timely returns of some of their injured stars this weekend.

The Spaniard, whose side travel to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, are currently without three key defenders, Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, plus young attacker Max Dowman.

Speaking on Friday at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, Arteta delivered a cryptic update after confirming he has no fresh injury concerns following the 3-2 Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg triumph at Chelsea.

When asked if any of his current absentees could be back this weekend, the Arsenal boss replied: "They might be, I need to meet the medical staff to see if any can be."

Arteta rarely gives much away when it comes to injuries but he seemingly did not rule out the prospect of injured players returning this weekend.

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However, Riccardo Calafiori is unlikely to be back as ahead of the midweek trip to Stamford Bridge, Arteta indicated the full-back was facing several more weeks on the sidelines with a muscular problem.

Calafiori felt a niggle before the 2-1 win over Brighton in late December and then caused further damage in the warm-up when he was forced to withdraw from the starting XI.

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