Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on seven players ahead of the Premier League clash against Bournemouth on the road tomorrow.
The Gunners have had a good start to the campaign with 17 points accumulated from seven games. They are presently third in the standings, just one point behind leaders Liverpool.
The London giants have the chance to temporarily move to the top of the table on Saturday and ahead of the South Coast trip, Arteta has provided an update on seven key players.
Bukayo Saka picked up a hamstring injury scare on international duty with England, but the manager has said that he is evolving well and will have some big tests later today.
He told reporters (via football.london): “It’s not a serious injury. He’s evolving well. He was probably good enough to play with the national team second game. We have some big tests today so we are hopeful.”
Meanwhile, the Spanish tactician added that Gabriel Martinelli only landed in London yesterday after Brazil duty and he will also need to be assessed ahead of the Cherries clash.
He added: “Gabi landed yesterday afternoon. Yesterday he went outside to a bit to see how he’s feeling. We have to decide if we want to take a risk because I know he’ll say he is.”
Kai Havertz withdrew from international duty with a knee issue, but Arteta emphasised that he has a good chance of facing the Cherries in tomorrow’s late kick-off at the Vitality Stadium.
Arteta said on Havertz: “He had a few issues but we’ve been dealing with that. We have great communication with Germany. If he trains well today he has a good chance to be fit and available.”
Martin Odegaard was spotted working out in an anti-gravity treadmill during the international break, but Arteta has clarified that tomorrow’s game will come too soon for the Norway international.
On Odegaard, he said: “He’s not gonna be fit for this game. Next week will be a different story. He needs to clear some markers doing things with the ball in that latter stage of rehab. Next week will be crucial.”
The manager also provided an update on Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko. The trio could be available to face the Cherries based on how they fare in today’s training session.
Arteta concluded: “They are quite close the three of them. Today we’ll have to push. We are struggling a bit with the numbers, especially in our right side.”
