Mikel Arteta gave injury updates on Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey on Friday, ahead of Arsenal’s match against Manchester City.

Bukayo Saka came off in the first half of Arsenal’s Champions League match against RC Lens on Tuesday, providing an early assist before being forced off with an injury.

Saka had also come off early with injury concerns in the previous two matches against AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur, leading to fears of a recurring problem that might rule him out of this weekend’s game against Manchester City.

After his England call-up earlier this week, Mikel Arteta wouldn’t be drawn on Saka’s exact injury status, only stating that the winger is in contention for the squad.

“In contention, that’s it,” Arteta said of Saka’s fitness. “I’m not a doctor. That’s what they told me.

“I have spoken to Gareth (Southgate) on several occasions. But I have to do my job, I give him the news.

“We have really good communication and he needs to make the best decision as well for the national team and I’m not going to get involved there.”

Elsewhere, Arteta confirmed that Thomas Partey would be in the squad for the match after injury.

“He’s ahead of schedule, that’s for sure,” Arteta said. “We wanted to have him in the squad (against Lens) if we needed to. The way the game panned out we didn’t use him.

“So it’s good he will be in the squad.”

The only other question mark is around Gabriel Martinelli, with no updates yet on whether the winger might return in time to face City this weekend.

Jurrien Timber remains absent, likely to miss much of the remainder of the season.