Arsenal defender William Saliba is a serious doubt to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The centre-back has been out for three weeks after injuring his back during Arsenal’s Europa League last-16 second-leg defeat by Sporting.
The club continue to be vague on a timeframe for Saliba’s return, unlike Takehiro Tomiyasu who was injured in the same game and has been ruled out for the season.
Mikel Arteta last week said: “He is progressing. He still has some discomfort in his back. We are trying to manage him in the best possible way.”
Saliba has not yet returned to training and faces an uphill battle to be back in time to face Liverpool.
Arsenal will make a final decision on Saliba closer to Sunday’s game, but Rob Holding is in line to start in his place again.
Holding has started and performed well in Arsenal’s last two games in the absence of Saliba, having previously only played 17 minutes of Premier League football this season.
Arsenal have not won a League game at Anfield since September 2012, when manager Mikel Arteta was playing.
