Latest Arsenal injury news as five miss West Ham amid new Saka and Martinelli return updates

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Mikel Arteta has remained coy on whether Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka could return for Arsenal's Champions League last-16 first leg in March. Having finished in the top eight of the league phase, the Gunners skipped the play-off round while Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain had to navigate a further two games.

Following Madrid's 3-1 win on Wednesday night, the holders knocked out Man City, while PSG also reached the round of 16 alongside PSV and Feyenoord with one of the two Dutch teams drawn to face Arsenal. A sensational reunion with Robin van Persie was potentially on the cards after he agreed terms to take charge of Feyenoord.

However, it is PSV that Arsenal have been drawn against with the first leg to be played in Eindhoven on Tuesday, March 4 and their second leg set for Wednesday, March 12 at Emirates Stadium. Despite those games being just a few weeks away, Arteta did not rule out either Martinelli or Saka.

"I'm not sure," he told football.london during his press conference when asked if the attacking duo could be back. "That's a question for the doctor. Both are going really well. Martinelli is a bit ahead of Bukayo but they will have to see. How the boys are feeling and what we are prepared to do."

Both players are currently recovering from very different hamstring injuries - with Saka having missed the last two months after undergoing surgery. Martinelli, meanwhile, suffered his issue earlier this month with four weeks likely to be how long he misses.

Arteta's comment on Martinelli being back sooner suggests he could feature against PSV, while Saka may have to wait a bit longer. According to a report by The Mirror, the match against Fulham on Tuesday, April 1 is when the 23-year-old could be back in contention.

As for imminent returns, Ben White could be handed his first minutes in over three months after returning to their matchday squad last weekend against Leicester City. "He's ready to play," Arteta said of White. "Whether to start or not is a decision we'll make tomorrow, but he's certainly available now to be part of the group."

Similarly to England star Saka, both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus underwent surgery to fix serious injuries with both attackers now out for the season. Jesus damaged his ACL in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United - while Havertz tore his hamstring during Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in Dubai earlier this month.

Takehiro Tomiyasu will also be unavailable for an extended period with Arteta sending a clear message after he underwent an operation on his knee. "He's been trying everything he possibly could to try to avoid a surgery," said the Arsenal manager.

"At some stage, that wasn't reacting as well as we needed it to, so we decided between all parties that the best thing to do was have surgery again."

"Unfortunately, it's going to keep him out for a long period ,again, and that's very sad, because he is a player who lives for the game. He is really keen to play and be consistent and when he is at his level, he is an incredible player for us."

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