Return: Bukayo Saka could be back as Arsenal face Bournemouth this weekend
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal are hoping to have Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber back for their Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta's side host the Cherries in the early kick-off on Saturday. Victory would move them 12 points clear at the top of the table before Manchester City take on Chelsea the following day.
Saka has been out since the Carabao Cup final and pulled out of England duty due to an issue he has been managing.
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Timber, meanwhile, is battling a groin injury but Arteta suggested ahead of the win over Sporting on Tuesday night that the pair could return this weekend.
"Let's see, hopefully they're going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well," Arteta said.
"That's a massive boost because in recent days we've lost so many important players and that's something that we need to change immediately."
Arsenal are expected to be cautious with their fitness, so Saka and Timber could still just be named on the bench even if they are fit.
Martin Odegaard went down off the ball against Sporting and came off shortly after. That did not appear to be a serious issue, but his absence would be a major blow with Eberechi Eze yet to return to fitness.
If Arteta is to freshen up his side elsewhere, Cristhian Mosquera is an option to come in at right-back to help manage Ben White's workload.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli were both brilliant off the bench against Sporting and combined to score the winner in stoppage time. The pair looked sharp and could each come into the starting lineup here.
That appears particularly likely on the left wing, with Leandro Trossard yet to score a goal in any competition in 2026.
Arteta will provide a full team news update at his pre-Bournemouth press conference on Friday afternoon.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Odegaard, Martinelli; Havertz
Doubts: Saka, Timber, Eze, Hincapie
Injured: Merino
Time and date: 12.30pm BST on Saturday April 11, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium
How to watch: TNT Sports