Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is sweating excessively over the fitness of Bukayo Saka for Sunday's Premier League encounter with champions Manchester City at the Emirates.
The 22-year-old overcame a couple of bumps and bruises to start against Lens in the Champions League in midweek, but he came off in the first half as the Gunners slumped to a 2-1 defeat.
Arteta said at his pre-game press conference that Saka was "in contention" to play, and he has been included in the England squad for October's internationals, but there is a general feeling that he will not be taking part against Pep Guardiola's men this weekend.
Saka - who became the first player in Europe's top five leagues this season to register five goals and five assists with his pass to Gabriel Jesus on Tuesday - is accompanied by long-term knee absentee Jurrien Timber and fellow hamstring victim Gabriel Martinelli in the treatment bay, although the latter has not been definitively ruled out yet.
Unless the sturdy Saka makes a rapid recovery, Fabio Vieira will expect to get the nod over Reiss Nelson on the right flank, joining ex-Man City marksman Jesus and Eddie Nketiah in the attacking trident.
Another uninspiring display from Kai Havertz in midweek could tempt Arteta into recalling the fit-again Thomas Partey, as Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard continue as midfield shoo-ins.
Oleksandr Zinchenko will also line up against his former employers, while Ben White is certain to displace Takehiro Tomiyasu on the right-hand side, where the Japan international struggled to spark life into the Arsenal attack against Lens.
David Raya was at fault for Lens' equaliser in midweek, but the Brentford loanee will expect to keep Aaron Ramsdale at bay once again, as Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba protect their new number one.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Partey; Vieira, Nketiah, Jesus
> Click here to see how Man City could line up for this clash
Ben Knapton
