Arsenal have received encouraging injury news ahead of their Premier League encounter with Hull City, with William Saliba returning to full fitness. However, manager Mikel Arteta is still dealing with concerns surrounding Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka as the Gunners prepare for their final fixture before the November international break.

The North London club will host Hull City at the Emirates Stadium, hoping to continue their impressive run of performances following their Champions League victory over Slavia Prague. Having secured an important European result, Arsenal will be eager to maintain their momentum and strengthen their position in the Premier League.

Saliba's recovery represents the biggest positive development for Arteta, as the French international is now approaching a return to competitive action after overcoming a persistent back injury. The centre-back has been unavailable throughout the current campaign, leaving Arsenal without one of their most dependable defensive players.

The 25-year-old reportedly aggravated the problem while representing France at the World Cup during the summer. Although the injury raised concerns about the possibility of a lengthy absence, he managed to avoid surgery and instead continued with a rehabilitation programme.

His recovery has progressed positively in recent weeks, allowing him to gradually increase his training activities. Saliba recently completed 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly, providing an important indication that he was getting closer to regaining match fitness.

He subsequently returned to full training ahead of Arsenal's Champions League meeting with Slavia Prague. Although Arteta did not include him in the match as an active substitute, the manager confirmed that the defender had made sufficient progress to be considered ready for a return whenever required.

"He's in a really good place," the Arsenal manager said.

"He feels really comfortable. He played 45 minutes behind closed doors last week. He feels ready to go."

Saliba could therefore make his first competitive appearance of the season against Hull City. His availability would strengthen Arsenal's central defensive options and give Arteta greater flexibility when selecting his preferred defensive partnership.

However, the return of the French defender has not completely removed Arsenal's injury concerns, as Konsa has emerged as another potential absentee following the Champions League victory over Slavia Prague.

The defender started alongside Gabriel but was unable to complete the encounter after experiencing physical discomfort. His early withdrawal raised questions about his fitness ahead of the upcoming Premier League fixture.

Arteta subsequently explained that the decision to substitute Konsa was influenced by concerns about his physical condition rather than a tactical adjustment. The manager suggested that the defender's demanding schedule and involvement in several recent matches could have contributed to the problem.

"Obviously he's playing a lot. He's played so many games in the last few weeks. He had some issues and we decided to take him off," Arteta explained.

Arsenal are expected to receive another update on Konsa's condition before the meeting with Hull. Although his availability has not been completely ruled out, the coaching staff may decide against taking unnecessary risks, particularly with Saliba now available again.

Meanwhile, Saka remains another major concern for the Gunners as he continues recovering from a quadriceps injury. The England international has missed four consecutive matches since picking up the problem during Arsenal's encounter with Bayern Munich.

His absence has been a significant setback because of the creativity, attacking movement and goal-scoring contribution he provides from the right wing. Saka remains one of Arsenal's most influential attacking players, making his recovery particularly important to the team's ambitions.

Initial concerns suggested that the 25-year-old could spend approximately eight weeks away from competitive football. However, Arsenal are still awaiting a clearer indication of his recovery period as medical specialists continue assessing the injury.

Arteta previously disclosed that Saka required another medical scan to establish how the injury was responding to treatment and whether the tendon had suffered any damage.

"As I said, he needed another scan to see how the amount of fluid that was there was resolving, whether the tendon is touched and how badly it is touched," the Arsenal manager revealed.

The additional examination is expected to help Arsenal determine the seriousness of the problem and establish a more reliable timeline for his return. Until the results are fully assessed, the club is unlikely to make any definite promises about when the winger will be available again.

With Saliba nearing his comeback while Konsa and Saka remain uncertain, Arteta will be hoping to receive further positive medical updates before the Hull City encounter. Having important players available would strengthen Arsenal's chances of maintaining their impressive form and entering the international break with another positive result.