Mikel Arteta provides 'very positive' injury updates on William Saliba, Bukayo Saka & more | OneFootball

A cheery Mikel Arteta announced he had "very positive news" when it came to Arsenal's myriad of injuries ahead of the club's Champions League tie with Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.

The Gunners have been beset by injuries this season, not only losing players for sustained spells, but arguably the most important individuals in the squad. William Saliba was the latest to join the treatment room in London Colney after picking up a muscular issue which sidelined him for Saturday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Initial reports suggested that the normally durable Frenchman would be out for around two weeks with a hamstring strain. Arteta didn't divulge a detailed timeline, but did reveal that Saliba is "evolving really well".

"The last few days he was feeling much better already but this game comes a little bit too early for him," the manager added.

William Saliba is doing better already / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Riccardo Calafiori has been blighted by niggling fitness concerns throughout his debut campaign in the capital, yet is set to be back for the midweek European tie.

As Arteta was all too keen to reveal, teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri is set to join his Italian teammate in the squad. "Very positive news," the Spanish boss beamed. "We missed them for a few weeks and they returned today for training. They will be available for the game."

Bukayo Saka is Arsenal's most keenly missed absentee. The dependable winger sustained a hamstring tear before Christmas which briefly looked like threatening the rest of his season.

Arteta reluctantly revealed that the forward will be out for several months. While a return in March is still the expected recovery timeframe, Arteta added: "He's doing really well. Feeling better day by day but we have to respect the healing process and then he has other stages to go through in the rehab."