Mikel Arteta hopeful for 'immediate' Arsenal injury boost in new three-man update | OneFootball

Gunners slumped to a disappointing home loss to Bournemouth without their captain and vice-captain

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal need Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka back "immediately" to get their season back on track.

Manchester City travel to Chelsea on Sunday and then host Arsenal next weekend. If Pep Guardiola's side win those two matches, they will trail Arsenal by just three points with a game in hand.

Saka has not played since the Carabao Cup final, while Odegaard picked up an issue in midweek when starting against Sporting.

Riccardo Calafiori was also absent against Bournemouth and Arteta was asked after the match if he had an update on the trio.

"No," Arteta said.

"On Martin as well no, and Bukayo Saka either. We don't have an update yet."

Bukayo Saka has not played since the Carabao Cup final

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Despite being typically coy on the injury situation, Arteta did not hide his desperation to get key players back.

The Arsenal manager on Friday described Odegaard as the player that "connects everybody" and in his absence the Gunners looked painfully disjointed in the defeat to Bournemouth.

Arteta called on those currently on the sidelines to do whatever it takes to get back on the pitch in the run-in.

"We need everything," Arteta said.

"First of all we need everybody fit and available. The ones that are not involved, the ones that are not with us, that are really big, important players, we need them immediately with us.

"Then we're going to be much better. Then the other ones, we need to stand up. Me the first one. Embrace this challenge and go for it."