Ezri Konsa has been declared available for Arsenal's Premier League fixture with Hull City at the Emirates on Saturday, while Mikel Arteta has indicated that Bukayo Saka is still some weeks from a return. William Saliba, meanwhile, could be involved for the first time this season.

Konsa cleared after Prague withdrawal

In Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League victory at Slavia Prague, Cristhian Mosquera came on for Konsa soon after the hour mark. Arteta said afterwards that the centre-back "had some issues" and pointed to the volume of matches he has played in recent weeks.

At Friday’s pre-match press conference, the manager called the substitution a precautionary measure. "He's fine," Arteta said. "He was feeling much better today."

Konsa's inclusion in the England squad announced on Friday morning had already suggested there was no lasting problem, and he trained ahead of the Hull game. Metro reports that he has appeared in all 14 of Arsenal's matches since joining from Aston Villa in August.

No fixed date for Saka

Saka has not played since coming off inside the opening ten minutes of October's Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich because of a quad injury. Arsenal Insider notes that he has now sat out five matches.

Arteta would not be drawn on a target date, including the run of fixtures that includes Manchester City, the north London derby and Real Madrid. "We're talking about weeks," he said. "After the international break, he's going to start hitting the pitch and start to have more activity."

He added: "Bukayo is desperate to get back with the team, but it's still quite early," and said he did not want to place extra pressure on the medical staff.

Reported estimates have differed. Hand of Arsenal suggested a minimum of six weeks, the Evening Standard cited initial suggestions of up to eight weeks and noted that a build-up of fluid delayed follow-up tests, while Metro said some reports have pointed to a return after Christmas. Arsenal have not confirmed a timeframe.

Saliba back in the squad

Saliba was named among the substitutes in Prague, the first time he has been in a matchday squad this season, having worked his way back from a long-term back problem. According to The Evening Standard, he has not played since France lost to Spain in the World Cup semi-final in July.

Arseblog News states that the defender played 45 minutes in a closed-door friendly a week earlier. Arteta stated that Arsenal had maintained regular communication with the France setup, which will announce its squad on Friday evening for Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey under Zinedine Zidane.

"It's something between them, because Willy needs minutes as well," Arteta said. "Whatever is decided is fine for us."

Options for Hull

Max Dowman is unavailable as he serves the second match of a three-game suspension, which also covers the trip to Newcastle. Arsenal Insider reports that, with Saka unavailable, Noni Madueke is the sole right-wing option; although he scored the opener in Prague, he was left out of the England squad, and he has three goals and an assist in his last eight appearances.

Konsa, Eberechi Eze and Myles Lewis-Skelly kept their England places, with recalls for Declan Rice and Ben White. Metro notes that victory over Hull would lift Arsenal six points clear of Manchester City, who travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Photo: Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized.