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Mikel Arteta is facing a long spell without the services of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka (Image: Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Arsenal are concerned Bukayo Saka could be out for two months as manager Mikel Arteta hails his Everton counterpart David Moyes ahead of Saturday's Premier League encounter between the clubs.
The Gunners will certainly be without star winger Saka for the Emirates Stadium showdown (3pm kick-off) after he sustained a thigh injury 10 minutes into their 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
And reports this evening suggest the England international will be out for a minimum six weeks after suffering the new setback.
Earlier in the day Arteta confirmed Saka was due to see further specialists. The Gunners boss said: "He's got another MRI this afternoon because he had quite a lot of fluid in the area so it was difficult to understand the extent of the injury. We will know more probably tomorrow.
"Again we need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists. Obviously when a player has to walk off the pitch, he is struggling to walk without any pain, he's restricted to movement, they are not good signs. Let's be a little bit patient so we can gave a definitive assessment and then let you know."
Arsenal have been given a boost ahead of the visit of Arteta's former club Everton with defender Piero Hincapie passed fit although, along with Saka, they are still missing William Saliba and Christos Tzolis.
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But the options at Arteta's disposal remain in contrast to those available to Moyes, the manager he played 209 appearances for during his six-and-a-half-year stay with the Blues.
The veteran Scot is now back on Merseyside for a second spell as Everton boss and has been dealt a tough hand after the club's poor end to the transfer window, which has left him with just 18 senior outfield players to choose from.
And asked if Moyes is the real king of the Premier League in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said: "100%. I don't know if he's the king or what he is, but he's certainly someone that we all look up to. Not only for his longevity, I think for what he represents for the game, what he represents for the Premier League, his trajectory.
Mikel Arteta with David Moyes before the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton last season. Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
"Me especially because I know the man behind the coach, which is the most important thing. Then I really know the coach and he's a superb coach."
The Blues head to north London on the back of suffering their first defeat of the season in all competitions after going down 2-0 at home to Chelsea last Saturday.
Defending champions Arsenal, who start the weekend in second and three points behind leaders Manchester City, will be favourites.
But Everton gave the Gunners a real run for their money at the Emirates in last season's corresponding clash and Arteta, responding to a question about the biggest threats his side will face on Saturday, said: "A lot, because I know David so well, the way he sets the team.
"Obviously the quality that they have in their organisation. And individually, it's not a coincidence that they didn't lose before the last game, because they are a really good team. And we know that as well, because in recent clashes it's always been a really difficult match for us."