Saka and Timber had been huge doubts after missing out on Tuesday’s Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Calafiori meanwhile, suffered a knee injury during the clash with the Ukrainian champions that Arteta admitted was worrying.
“With Riccy he had to come off because he felt something,” the Spaniard said in his post-match press conference. “I don’t know the extent of it so in that sense not great news.”
None of the trio were involved as Arsenal trained at the Sobha Realty Centre on Friday but speaking ahead of Sunday’s top of the table clash, Arteta insisted that all three are in contention to face Liverpool on Sunday.
“We’re going to do our very best to somehow have them available,” he said. “It’s very, very uncertain.”
Calafiori seems the least likely to be able to make Liverpool after sustaining what looked to be a nasty knee problem. Arteta though has insisted that past experiences allow him to maintain confidence.
“He needs some more tests,” Arteta said of the Italian. “Yesterday he had some, today he’s going to have some more. Last time we thought it was really bad and then he ended up playing two days later.”
Saka meanwhile seems to have more of a chance of being fit to play. Arteta admitted he has been training on the grass at London Colney ahead of the game, and that a late decision will be made.
“He’s done a bit of training on the grass,” Arteta said of his right winger. “How far we can get him before Sunday is another question. We will see.”
Timber on the other hand has been out for nearly a month with a muscular problem sustained during the 2-0 win over PSG. The Dutch international returned to training this week, but has recovered slower than hoped.
“It was the first session that he could have some involvement,” Arteta said. “He’s been out a while. We thought he would be further ahead.”
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney are out with injury. William Saliba is also absent as he serves a one match suspension for his controversial red card at Bournemouth last week.