Arsenal boss Arteta gives injury updates on Saka, Odegaard and Dowman 

Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of Arsenal vs Sunderland 

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has shared injury updates ahead of their Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.

Discussing Bukayo Saka's hop complaint after the England star limped out of the warm-up prior to the 4-0 victory at Leeds United last week, which caused the 24-year-old to miss the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea on Tuesday. 

Arteta said on Saka: "His hip is getting better. Hopefully he will be with us very soon."

The Arsenal boss also gave updates on club captain Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, and talented teen Max Dowman.

The Gunners boss said: On Odegaard: Martin is getting better it will be a matter of days we believe, and Jurrien is fine.

On Dowman he added: "Max hasn't trained with us yet, so it will be still a few weeks, but hopefully he is getting better."

On missing Mikel Merino after the former Real Sociedad midfielder fractured a bone in his foot during the 3-2 defeat by Manchester United, Arteta said: Arsenal boss Arteta on missing Merino: "It's a big blow. Mikel offers something different in the team, but he's going to be out for months  so we need to support him, make sure he's connected with the team because he can still add a lot of value to the players and staff."