England apparently expect Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka to report for international duty this month despite his hamstring injury.
The 22-year-old sustained the issue in Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Lens, having previously suffered knocks in Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur.
Heading into a crunch Premier League clash with Manchester City, Mikel Arteta remained tight-lipped on Saka's condition but claimed that he was "in contention" for Sunday's game.
However, those comments were seemingly just smoke and mirrors from the Spaniard, who did not call up Saka to the matchday squad for the visit of the champions, although he watched on from the sidelines as the Gunners claimed a pivotal 1-0 win.
After the game, Arteta revealed that Saka was not close to making the squad and also stated that the winger would not be available for England duty following his call-up by Gareth Southgate.
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Despite Arteta's admission, Saka has not officially withdrawn from the England squad, and The Mirror claims that the Three Lions are banking on the 22-year-old to join up with the rest of the squad at St George's Park.
Even if Saka is not deemed fit enough to represent his country this month, the Football Association apparently want to assess his fitness levels during the international break as per protocol.
In contrast, Arsenal are keen for Saka to enjoy a complete rest before domestic action resumes later this month, especially with Arteta being handed two fresh concerns after Sunday's game.
Centre-back William Saliba kept Erling Haaland quiet with a monstrous display at the back, but it was subsequently revealed that he had been playing through the pain of a "chronic" toe injury.
As a result, Saliba has withdrawn from the France squad for October's internationals, while Belgian attacker Leandro Trossard came off at half time against Man City with a hamstring issue of his own.
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Arsenal are hopeful that Trossard did not suffer a serious issue, and he is yet to withdraw from the Belgian squad either, but the ex-Brighton & Hove Albion man will also undergo further assessment this week.
Trossard was replaced for the second half by Gabriel Martinelli, who returned from a hamstring injury ahead of schedule and came up with an 86th-minute winner to end the Gunners' 12-game Premier League losing run against Pep Guardiola's side.
Arteta revealed after the game that Martinelli defied club doctors to make a quicker-than-expected recovery from his hamstring issue, while Thomas Partey also came off the bench for the first time since picking up a groin problem in September.
Arsenal's first league win over Man City since 2015 leaves the Gunners second in the table with 20 points after eight games, only behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur on goals scored ahead of a London derby with Chelsea in 12 days' time.
Meanwhile, England host Australia at Wembley in a friendly on Friday before reuniting with Euro 2020 final opponents Italy in a Euro 2024 qualifier four days later.
Ben Knapton
