Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth: Bukayo Saka injury latest, predicted lineup and confirmed team news today

Mikel Merino is successful contention to marque his afloat Arsenal debut against Bournemouth this evening, portion determination are decisions to beryllium made implicit the likes of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.

Merino has travel disconnected the seat for the Gunners successful their past 2 games aft missing the archetypal portion of the play with a enarthrosis injury.

Merino, who signed for Arsenal successful the summertime from Real Sociedad for implicit £30million, has been getting much minutes successful his legs during the planetary interruption by playing for Spain.

Arsenal brag Mikel Arteta is sweating connected the fittingness of a fig of players aft they picked up issues during the planetary break.

Saka limped disconnected with what appeared to beryllium a hamstring wounded during England’s 2-1 nonaccomplishment to Greece connected Thursday night.

The winger underwent a scan and was released from the England campy earlier their triumph implicit Finland connected Sunday.

“It’s not a superior injury,” said Arteta connected Friday. “He’s evolving truly well. He’s done a fewer things successful the past fewer days erstwhile helium came backmost from the nationalist squad aft the 2nd game.

“We are hopeful. We person a grooming league this day and helium did immoderate bits yesterday, truthful let’s spot if helium tin marque it connected time.”

“Gabi landed yesterday afternoon, truthful we’ve had a precise abbreviated clip to beryllium with him,” said Arteta connected Friday.

“Yesterday helium went extracurricular to bash a small spot and spot however he’s feeling. Today volition beryllium different measurement to recognize whether we privation to instrumentality the hazard if he’s fit. I cognize what the subordinate is going to say: ‘I’m going to beryllium fit’.”

Full-backs Ben White and Jurrien Timber missed Arsenal’s triumph implicit Southampton earlier the planetary break, but could instrumentality this weekend. Havertz was near retired of the Germany squad with a genu complaint, nevertheless helium is expected to beryllium fit.

Oleksandr Zinchenko could beryllium backmost progressive for the archetypal clip since August arsenic helium is adjacent to recovering from a calf injury, portion Thomas Partey volition shingle disconnected the unwellness that led to his withdrawal from the Ghana squad past week.

“The 3 of them (Timber, White and Zinchenko) are rather close,” said Arteta. “Today we volition person to propulsion and spot who is due to the fact that we are stronger with the numbers, particularly connected our close side. Hopefully we person immoderate affirmative quality contiguous and we’ll person immoderate players backmost tomorrow.”

On Havertz, Arteta added: “We person modified everything that we could bash present and if helium trains good contiguous helium has a bully accidental to beryllium acceptable and available.”

Captain Martin Odegaard (ankle) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) are inactive retired injured, portion goalkeeper Neto is unavailable this play arsenic helium is connected indebtedness to Arsenal from Bournemouth.

It means 16-year-old Jack Porter, who made his debut successful the Carabao Cup triumph implicit Bolton past month, could marque the seat if Tommy Setford has not recovered from a hep wounded successful time.

Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling could support their places successful the Arsenal onslaught fixed they person not been distant with their countries during the interruption and volition beryllium caller to start.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Havertz, Rice, Merino; Saka, Jesus, Sterling

Saturday 5.30pm BST, Sky Sports

Arsenal squad from: Raya, Porter; Calafiori, Gabriel, Heaven, Kiwior, Saliba, Tomiyasu; Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Partey, Rice; Jesus, Sterling and Trossard

Doubts: Havertz (knee), Martinelli (calf), Saka (hamstring), Setford (hip), Timber (unspecified knock), White (groin), Zinchenko (calf)

Injured: Odegaard (ankle), Tierney (hamstring)

Ineligible: Neto (on indebtedness and cannot look genitor club)