Mikel Arteta met with reporters on Friday and gave the latest on Arsenal’s injured players, with Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu all getting an update.

First up, the good news.

Both Bukayo Saka and Takehiro Tomiysau should be fit to face West Ham on Sunday.

Arteta said, “Hopefully he [Saka] will be fine. He had some issues in the final part of the game but he’s recovered well and we expect him to be available.”

Asked if Tomiyasu was fit to start against the Hammers, Arteta replied, “You only know that after a player’s been out for a long spell, when you put him on the pitch.

“He hasn’t started any matches yet. He’s lacked a bit of time on the pitch so it’s a decision we will make tomorrow.”

The bad news, however, is whatever little hope we had that Thomas Partey might make a return before the end of the season has been dashed.

His season is done.

“He’s progressing but he had a significant injury, a recurring injury as well, so we don’t expect him to make progress that quickly to see him this season, but hopefully I am wrong,” Arteta said.

There are, of course, just three weeks (and four games) left in the season after Sunday’s match.

West Ham team news

West Ham currently have three players sidelined – Issa Diop, Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna.

Ogbonna has only just started running on grass after picking up an ACL injury so will not feature.

Diop is also another who may miss the rest of the season, with David Moyes saying, “Issa is making a really good recovery and there’s always an outside chance he’ll be back before the end of the season.

“We were worried and didn’t think he would be, but we think there is a good chance that he could be. But we can’t confirm that at this moment.”