Mikel Arteta reveals Bukayo Saka timeline and Arsenal boost in new three-man injury update

Arsenal will remain without Bukayo Saka for “weeks” due to injury, though Ezri Konsa is set to be available for Hull’s visit to north London on Saturday.Saka has been sidelined since limping off with a quad issue sustained during the early stages of last month’s heavyweight Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich.Initial reports suggested that the England winger could miss up to eight weeks, though a build-up of fluid in the area led to a delay in follow-up tests being conducted.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has now confirmed that Saka will be out of action for “a while”, though with hope that he can start to ramp up his recovery after the upcoming November international break.“We’re talking about weeks,” Arteta said. “Let’s see. After the international break, he’s going to start hitting the pitch and have more activity. Unfortunately, he’s going to be out for a while.”Konsa, meanwhile, came off just after the hour mark in midweek against Slavia Prague in the Champions League.Arteta revealed after the match that the summer signing “had some issues” that led to him being replaced, as Cristhian Mosquera was brought on.Injury scare: Ezri Konsa was forced off during Arsenal’s win over Slavia PragueGettyThe Arsenal manager pointed to how many matches Konsa has played in recent weeks, with the England defender becoming an ever-present alongside Gabriel.“Yeah, he’s fine,” Arteta said of Konsa. “He was feeling much better today. We took him out for a precaution but yesterday and today he’s feeling good.”Read MoreWilliam Saliba made the Arsenal matchday squad against Slavia, the first time he has been involved this season.The Frenchman has undergone a long rehabilitation process following a back injury and has not yet played since France’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain in July.Saliba did not come on in Prague, with Arsenal set to manage his return to the pitch carefully, but he could get his first minutes this weekend and potentially make the France squad for Nations League games against Italy and Turkey.“We’ve been in very close contact [with France],” Arteta said. “They have all the information. Now it’s about them. Whatever is decided, it’s fine for us.”