Arsenal dealt double injury blow ahead of Liverpool clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are both doubts for Saturday's Premier League battle with Liverpool.

Saka had to withdraw from England duty due to a hamstring problem and has since been undergoing treatment at London Colney, while Smith Rowe's time with the Under-21s was hampered by a hip problem.

The two players are not carrying serious injuries, but Arteta has revealed that both Saka and Smith Rowe are not guaranteed to be available for the weekend's meeting with the champions at the Emirates.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, the Arsenal manager said: "[Saka] hasn't trained with the team yet. He's been doing some individual work. We had to pull him out of the England squad unfortunately. He's feeling better, but he hasn't trained with the team yet."

Asked about Smith Rowe, Arteta replied: "He had discomfort with his hip and that's why [England] decided to keep him out. We will see today how he is when we will speak with the doctors and the physios, and we will see if he is available for training tomorrow."

The Gunners currently occupy ninth spot in the Premier League table before their showdown with Liverpool, and a nine-point gap separates them from the Champions League places.