Double Arsenal injury update ahead of Liverpool as Mikel Arteta faces anxious wait

have been handed two pieces of injury news ahead of Sunday afternoon's mouth-watering clash with title rivals Liverpool. The Gunners could be without a number of senior stars amid a possible defensive headache.

William Saliba will sit out the game due to the red card he picked up at Bournemouth last weekend, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is a doubt - and Kieran Tierney has yet to return from his hamstring setback.

Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori faces a late fitness check - after missing open training on Friday. He sustained a knee problem in Arsenal's midweek win over Shakhtar Donetsk, being brought off on 73 minutes.

is also a doubt. The Dutchman has not played since being brought off at half-time in their win over Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.

He was, likewise, not seen in open training on Friday with confessing: "We expected him to be further back than where he is at the moment, but again we have to wait and see."

Head coach of the Netherlands, Ronald Koeman, is not considering him for selection for November's international break and - but he did miss almost the entirety of last season with an ACL injury.

Should he not make a comeback then Arteta might only have four available defenders to choose from; Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jakub Kiwior and Ben White. At the other end of the pitch, Bukayo Saka might also be unavailable.

The winger has not played since injuring a muscle in England's defeat to Greece this month. He too was absent from open training and Arteta outlined: "He's done a bit of training on the grass. How far we can get him before Sunday is another question."

The Gunners will definitely be without captain , who is still a little way off from returning from ligament damage. ahead of Liverpool.

The 25-year-old said: "I feel like it's close now but, although I haven't been involved in games lately, I feel I've still been able to use that time pretty well, too.

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"I'm still there at the training ground every day, and they are long days, as well. I'm usually pretty tired afterwards - because I've been doing a lot of work with the great medical and fitness team we have and I've spent a lot of time in the gym, as well."

"Hopefully I can come out of this period fresher, and stronger, and ready for the rest of the season. That's the aim now, look at the positives and use this time in a good way. When I'm back I'm going to be feeling pretty good, I'm sure," the Norway captain, 25, concluded.