Mikel Arteta hints at William Saliba return as crunch Man City title decider looms

Mikel Arteta has provided an update on William Saliba's injury, suggesting he could be fit in time to face title rivals Manchester City.

Arsenal have carved out a six-point lead over Pep Guardiola's side at the top of the Premier League table.

However, any slip-up could prove costly, with the reigning champions breathing down their neck.

Indeed, the title race could be decided when the pair face off later this month at the Etihad, with Gunners fans hoping to have star man Saliba back for the contest.

In the meantime, Arteta has offered a positive update on the Frenchman, suggesting he could be fit in time for the blockbuster clash.

Arteta offers Saliba injury update

The 21-year-old limped off against Sporting Lisbon during Arsenal's Europa League defeat with a back problem in March, and has not featured for the Gunners since.

While Arteta confirmed that Saliba will not be available for Arsenal's match against West Ham on the weekend, the Spaniard suggested he could be available before the season comes to an end.

When asked abut the defender's progress in his press conference, Arteta said: “He is progressing well and we are hopeful we are going to have him available in the next few weeks."

Arteta also offered an update on Eddie Nketiah's return from injury, revealing that the 23-year-old was back fit and available for the weekend.

This is a breaking news story from the team at SPORTbible and will be updated in due course. In the meantime, please follow us on our various social channels for the latest information on this story. You can find the latest SPORT news on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Stay tuned for the latest and follow all the latest developments below.