Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney will all be fit for Saturday's North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Zinchenko was unable to join up with the Ukraine squad for the international break due to a calf injury, which also ruled him out of the 3-0 win over Brentford earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Partey was a withdrawal from the Ghana squad due to knee discomfort, although the measure was thought to have been precautionary more than anything else.
Finally, Tierney sustained a head injury during Scotland's UEFA Nations League clash with the Republic of Ireland, and he was forced to miss his side's subsequent draw with Ukraine.
When asked for an update on injuries by reporters in his pre-match press conference, Arteta kept his cards close to his chest and refused to give specific details on individual players.
However, when specifically questioned on the fitness of Partey, Zinchenko and Tierney, Arteta said with a smile: "They are part of the team.
"We just finished the last training session, we had many players arriving yesterday so we had a short period to prepare the match but the boys look in good condition."
While the trio may be fit to return for the derby, Arsenal will definitely be without Emile Smith Rowe, who has now undergone an operation to address groin discomfort that has been bedevilling him for months.
"We had to make a decision, we could not continue with that uncertainty," Arteta added. "Do we have him? Do we not have him? We needed to draw a line and make that decision. We have to prepare him to get back stronger than he was."
Arsenal's medical update stated that Smith Rowe was aiming to rejoin team training in December, but Arteta was unable to give a timeframe on the 22-year-old's recovery period.
"I don't know, after surgery it's very difficult to give a timeline. The first process, how the bones heal and his first reaction, is he in pain and is he adapting? We need to go step-by-step but it will not be easy before the World Cup," the Spaniard explained.
Saturday will also mark a maiden North London derby for centre-back William Saliba, three years after the 21-year-old centre-back initially signed for the Gunners from Saint-Etienne.
Saliba has now become a mainstay of the Gunners backline after three loan spells back in France, and Arteta has no doubts that the Frenchman is ready for the threat that Tottenham and Harry Kane will pose.
"William has shown what he is capable of over the past few months. That doesn't mean that line will always go in the same direction, but he has been so good I have no doubts," Arteta said.
Arsenal went into the international break ahead of Spurs and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and can open up a four-point gap over both teams with victory on Saturday lunchtime.
Reigning champions Man City will then aim to respond in Sunday's Manchester derby with Manchester United at the Etihad. body check tags ::
