Arteta gives update on Saka and Odegaard's fitness ahead of Liverpool's showdown

The manager is confident his team can secure a victory at Anfield against champions Liverpool on Sunday, marking the first step towards their ultimate goal of dethroning the Merseyside club this season.

The Gunners haven't won at the stadium since 2012, but their strong start to the season has instilled a belief that this could change on Sunday.

Arteta also provided an update on the condition of Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, who both sustained injuries during the convincing win against Leeds last week.

"Bukayo is doing better, but he will be out for a few weeks. He doesn't need surgery. The injury isn't as bad as his previous one, but he was just unlucky. It was an action that required his full power; he had to change direction and felt something."

"Ødegaard hasn't started training with us yet. If he can, he will do so tomorrow. He's doing everything possible to be available," stated Arteta, adding that Christian Nørgaard, Ben White, and Leandro Trossard are also doubtful for Sunday's derby.

When asked if new signing Eberechi Eze could make his Arsenal debut at Anfield, Arteta replied: "We have options in that position, so let's see. Of course, I won't give you any hints. He has a special energy, a special aura, and he's ready. I'm very impressed with him."

"Liverpool are the champions, and there's a reason for that. They deserved to be champions. They were the better team last year, the most consistent. We want to beat that team this year. We have to go to Anfield with that spirit and that conviction."

"The favourite for the title is always the team that won it the previous season. Someone has to come and take that crown from them, and that's exactly what the rest of us will try to do. We've already started with the first two Premier League matches, and the goal is to be better than them."

"It's a very important match. We want to continue building on the momentum we've gathered. Going to these grounds, against such opponents, is what we want. The goal is to win these big matches convincingly," Arteta said regarding Liverpool, as reported by Sportal.

The Spaniard declined to comment on the potential transfer of Piero Hincapié, who is rumoured to be Arsenal's next new signing.