Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed Riccardo Calafiori will spend the next few weeks on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury on international duty.

The Italian slipped awkwardly during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Germany and later complained of a “strange” feeling in his knee as he limped away from the stadium.

Calafiori was soon sent for tests to determine the severity of his injury and Arteta confirmed that, while he was fortunate to avoid anything serious, the 22-year-old will still need time out of action to recover.

“Riccardo unfortunately picked up an injury again with the national team,” Arteta said. “Really unfortunate the way it happened. It could have been much worse.

“So hopefully it’s going to be a matter of weeks. But we’ll have to see how that injury evolves.”

Arteta confirmed that he expects to see winger Bukayo Saka back in action in Tuesday’s meeting with Fulham after over three months out with a hamstring injury, and there is some hope about a possible return for defender Jurrien Timber.

“[Timber] was ill for a long period, quite badly,” Arteta said of the Dutchman, who missed his side’s international fixtures because of a bug. “He’s felt much better in the last few days.”

Arsenal have just nine games to close the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool and will have the first opportunity to do so this week when they face off against Fulham. Arteta’s side are 12 points behind the Reds, who are in action against Everton on Wednesday.