Arteta: Saka out for weeks, Konsa fit for Hull
Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka will be out for weeks and would not confirm his return for Manchester City, while Ezri Konsa is fit to face Hull.
· Kickhell
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka will be out for weeks, with the winger not expected to return to the pitch until after the international break. Arsenal host Hull City on Saturday, with kick-off at 3pm UK. Saka has been sidelined since the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich last month.
Arteta said: "We're talking obviously about weeks, let's say after the international break. He's going to start hitting the pitch and start to have more activity and see how he feels, but unfortunately he's going to be out for a while."
Saka will miss Saturday's match and the international break. Arteta would not commit to him being available for Arsenal's game against Manchester City in three weeks. He said: "I don't want to put these guys under too much pressure. They are doing their best to get back fit, Bukayo is desperate to get back with the team, but it's still quite early."
William Saliba could be involved with France during the break after returning to the bench this season following a back injury suffered on international duty at the World Cup. Arteta said: "We've been in very close contact [with France], I think they're announcing at 5pm this evening, so they have all the information."
Ezri Konsa, who had a knock to his knee in Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League win over Slavia Prague, is fit for the weekend. Arteta said the defender was rested against Slavia as a precaution and added: "He's fine - he was feeling much better today."
Konsa is one of five Arsenal players called up by England, alongside Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice. Arteta said: "It's a proud thing to have a big English core in the national team from our club. It's something that is part of our identity."
Arsenal are top of the Premier League with 24 points from nine matches, having won eight and conceded five goals. Hull are 11th with 11 points. Arteta said: "We need to go, be better than Hull and beat them."
Asked whether a solid defence wins titles, Arteta said: "It does matter, everything matters." He added that sustaining a high level across the season requires commitment from every player.
