Arsenal handed huge injury boost ahead of Liverpool clash with player back sooner than expected

Arsenal have received a significant injury boost ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash against Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta and his side have been dealing with a growing injury list in recent weeks, with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber among those absent for Tuesday's 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Spaniard was dealt a further blow during that game, when left-back Riccardo Calafiori suffered a suspected knee injury.

Given his history of knee problems, Arsenal fans quickly grew concerned as to the severity of the issue.

Injury expert Physio Scout took to Twitter to state their belief that the injury was 'more likely' to be a medial collateral ligament (MCL) problem, rather than a more serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.

And Italian outlet Correire dello Sport now report that this verdict appears to be correct, with Calafiori said to have been diagnosed with an MCL injury.

He is expected to be out for 'no more than a few weeks', which would indicate a Grade 1 or lower Grade 2 injury.

The news will come as a major boost to Arteta if confirmed as, even though Calafiori will miss the Liverpool clash, he would return in time for a busy run of fixtures in December.

Speaking after the victory over Shakhtar - which was sealed by an own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk - Arteta said: "With Riccy, he felt something. I don't know the extent of that so in that sense it's not great news.

"He felt something, he could not continue playing. It is a bit of a worry."

Arsenal will be without several players, including Calafiori, on Sunday, with William Saliba's enforced one-match suspension for his straight red card against Bournemouth adding to the selection problems.

Arsenal decided not to appeal Saliba's sending off, which saw him receive his marching orders for denying a goalscoring opportunity in pulling down Evanilson.