Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has affirmed that Bukayo Saka is training as normal amid reports that he has been nursing an Achilles problem for a number of months.
The 22-year-old has not missed a single Premier League game for the Gunners over the past two seasons and has also started all four of their contests so far in the 2023-24 campaign.
By turning out against Crystal Palace last month, Saka equalled Paul Merson's club record of featuring in 82 successive Premier League games for Arsenal, before surpassing his compatriot against Fulham later that month.
The Gunners' 3-1 win over Manchester United a fortnight ago saw Saka make his 84th successive Premier League appearance, before he played both of England's games against Ukraine and Scotland in the international break.
Saka was named on the bench for the friendly with Scotland before being brought on in the second half, much to the annoyance of Arsenal fans who have been crying out for the winger to be granted a proper rest.
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Ahead of their Champions League opener against PSV Eindhoven on September 20 and North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur four days later, Gooners then learned the worrying news that Saka had apparently been playing through the pain of an Achilles injury since the end of last season.
However, speaking at Friday's pre-match press conference, Arteta insisted that aches and pains were part and parcel of being a professional athlete, and Saka is set to be available for Sunday's trip to Everton.
"He's fine, he trained normally today so there's nothing to report there. Every player has pains or issues but it's nothing to worry about," Arteta responded when asked about recent reports.
With Saka expected to feature at Goodison Park, Arsenal may only be without their trio of known absentees, as Jurrien Timber continues on the long road to recovery from his ACL injury.
Mohamed Elneny has been seen in training as he works his way back from a January knee operation, but it is unclear if the midfielder is ready for a return to competitive action, while Thomas Partey sustained a groin injury before the win over Man United.
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Offering an update on the Ghanaian's fitness, Arteta confirmed that he would still need another few weeks to fully recuperate, but he expects everyone else to be available, including Brazilian trio Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes.
"He [Partey] is still a few weeks away, it's a muscle injury and he's progressing well but he's still a few weeks away. The rest will be available. They're all good, they all came back well and trained today so they're in a good place," Arteta added.
The Spaniard was also asked about the departure of former record signing Nicolas Pepe, who had his contract terminated four years after joining from Lille for £72m, but he did not have a bad word to say about the "phenomenal" attacker.
"What I can say about him as a person is that he's a phenomenal boy, he tried really hard. He did his best, it's not fault the amount of money we paid at the time," Arteta said of the Ivorian.
"When things are not working out you have to move on. There's no point trying when something is not working either way, and that decision has been made in the benefit of both parties."
Arsenal took 10 points from their opening four Premier League games to sit fifth in the table, but they have lost four of their last five games against Everton at Goodison Park since a 5-2 victory in 2017 under Arsene Wenger.
Ben Knapton
