Arsenal and Hull City meet on the weekend with nine players from the sides set to miss the Premier League clash

Mikel Arteta did not rest as many starters as many expected when his Arsenal side faced Slavia Prague on Wednesday. Despite Declan Rice saying after the win at Anfield that he could do with a sleep for a couple of days, he started the game in Czechia.

William Saliba was welcomed back to the Gunners squad and made the bench, with now only Bukayo Saka missing from the team through injury. Arsenal take on Hull City on Saturday and will be missing five fewer players due to injury compared to their opponents.

Seven players in total are not expected to be fit for the game, barring some late changes. Arsenal meanwhile are missing just the two, with Saka still out as mentioned, and Max Dowman, who serves the second of his three-match suspension.

Make sure you never miss the latest Arsenal news and opinion by making Football London one of your Google preferred sources

Dowman was eligible to feature for Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League clash in midweek, with the suspension exclusively affecting domestic games. The trip to Newcastle United after the international break will complete the ban.

Sergej Jakirovic could welcome back summer signing Jack Butland from injury after missing the entirety of the current season through injury. Butland played the full ninety for the club’s under-21s in a 1-0 win over Derby on Monday evening.

23-year-old Konstantinos Tzolakis has been the number one and impressed, so even if Butland returns, it is unlikely he would displace the Greek keeper for the clash at the Emirates.

Other long term absentees for the Tigers include Eliot Matazo and Matt Targett. Matt Crooks will serve a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards in just six Premier League games.

Short-term absentees, but barring a surprise recovery, expected to miss the match include Charlie Hughes (groin), Darko Gyabi (groin), Ilyas Ansah (back) and Lucas Gourna-Douath (calf).

The two sides meet in North London on Saturday, with Mikel Arteta set to provide the latest team news update at Friday’s press conference. Arsenal can maintain their top spot in the Premier League by securing their ninth win from their opening ten games.