Mikel Arteta sweating on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's fitness for Liverpool trip

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is sweating on the fitness of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of Arsenal's game against Liverpool on Saturday.

The 32-year-old missed Gabon's World Cup qualifier against Egypt on Tuesday after picking up a calf strain against Libya four days earlier.

"Aubameyang will miss the game due to injury," confirmed Gabon teammate Bruno Ecuele Manga ahead of the Egypt game.

The news will worry Arteta as Folarin Balogun and Sead Kolasinac have also suffered injuries during the international break.

Balogun is suffering with a stomach bug and was replaced early during England U21's defeat to Georgia on Tuesday, while Kolasinac was on the receiving end of a horror tackle on Saturday.

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It's unclear when the latter will return to action but Balogun has a chance of being available for the Liverpool game.

"He had stomach cramps so he was struggling in the first half with that and we took him off," said England U21 boss Lee Carsley. "He's not injured, he just had a bit of a stomach bug."

Thomas Partey also remains an injury doubt after missing Arsenal's last Premier League fixture against Watford with a groin strain.

"Let's see what happens with Thomas," said Arteta before the international break. "He's got a muscle injury, and we don't know how it's going to evolve, so let's take it day by day."

Arsenal haven't lost in any competition since August to rise up to fifth in the Premier League table and can leapfrog Liverpool with a win at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's side are two points ahead of the Gunners heading into the fixture after suffering a 3-2 defeat against West Ham in their last outing.

Liverpool are enduring a minor injury crisis of their own and could be without as many as 10 players for the Premier League clash.

Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson, Andy Robertson and Divock Origi all picked up various problems on international duty.

Klopp does have a big squad and can handle several absentees, but the same can't be said about Arsenal.

The Gunners lost three consecutive Premier League games during August as Arteta struggled without his best players.

Aubameyang, Partey, Ben White and Alexandre Lacazette all missed minutes while Aaron Ramsdale, Martin Odegaard and Takehiro Tomiyasu were late arrivals.

When discussing the team's revival last month, Arteta highlighted the importance of having his whole squad fit and involved in their pursuit of European football.

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"The challenge now is to keep everybody on board together and fulfilling the role that each of us has to do in every moment, and through the season that is different," said the Spaniard.

"Sometimes it is a very leading and front role, and other times it is a supporting role.

"We don't have European games and for me the key is to keep the unity of the group together and players feeling valued at all times."