Mikel Arteta says ‘a few’ players are likely to miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Bolton Wanderers although he was reticent to go into details in his pre-game press conference.
After coming through a bruising trio of away games, the Spaniard is likely to give minutes to those on the fringes of his squad, including academy youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly and loanee Raheem Sterling, but he ruled out wholesale changes to his starting lineup because his squad is already stretched thin.
Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard are long-term absentees, Ben White wasn’t deemed fit enough to start at the Etihad, Leandro Trossard is banned after his red card at the weekend and backup goalkeeper Neto is cup-tied having featured in the Carabao Cup for Bournemouth before joining the Gunners on deadline day.
“Unfortunately, yes there will be a few players not available tomorrow, you will find out as soon as I give the line-up,” said Arteta on Tuesday morning.
Reacting to suggestions his side’s cramp issues at the Etihad were merely play-acting, he continued: “I always prefer the facts than supposing things. So let’s see who is available tomorrow and then we can talk about dark arts or these things. Or if it’s a reality.”
Asked if any of the injury issues were serious, he continued: “We have to wait for one of them.”
Arsenal fans will be hoping the injured player isn’t goalkeeper David Raya. The Spaniard was caught on camera with a bandage on his knee as he limped to the team bus on Sunday. Without much in reserve, it’s been speculated the Gunners could be forced to field 16-year-old Jack Porter between the sticks.
Arteta also extinguished hopes of a quick return for Zinchenko, who hasn’t been available since before the last Interlull. Asked about the Ukrainian’s calf issue, he said: “I think it will be out there still for a few weeks, unfortunately.”
The manager was also pressed for an update on Martin Odegaard. He remained vague on the subject, saying: “It will be a matter of weeks. But how long exactly, I can’t tell you.
“We might get a surprise, but I think it’s unlikely,” he added when asked if his captain could be available before the next international break in three weeks.
As for whether Sterling is champing at the bit to be involved after a bitty start to life at the Emirates, he said: “Obviously, he had a few minutes already, so he’s played in a few games already and tomorrow he has another opportunity.
“He’s ready, he’s really hungry to start to have more minutes and start to impact the team in the way that he can and hopefully tomorrow we can see that.”
I hate to say it. But time is up for Zinchenko, Tomiyasu and possibly Jesus too. I like them all as players but they are nowhere near what we need in terms of availability. Jesus looked woefully off the pace against Atalanta. I’ve forgotten what Tomi looks like and I’m very doubtful Zinchenko is going to usurp Calafiori or Timber, if he could get fit for five minutes. It won’t be easy to shift the physios best friends. But we kinda have to cut our losses now and move on. There’s no point us living in a delusion that somehow… Read more »
It’s a long season and we’ll need their help at some time especially if we go deep in the cups, but availability is definitely an issue with them (and Tierney) hopefully one or two of our youngsters like Nichols and/or Heaven can progress to fill the void if they leave?
Tomiyasu is a brilliant player but the injuries have just not been kind. I don’t see him as a starter anymore but if we could manage his injuries and use him just as a sub to shore things up, I feel he could still be a valuable player. Better player than Kiwior and.. Kiwior hasn’t been bad exactly. Zinchenko , I don’t know. Defending surely is not the strongest aspect of his game and is injury prone. Jesus, I don’t think we can replace him unless we can find a striker. Also can play as a winger. Still could be… Read more »
Kiwior is a good example of how far we have come. Far down our list at either fullback or centre half, he is miles better than someone like Rob Holding–who was often a starter. (I still have great affection and admiration for Rob’s attitude and leadership. But it is hard to see him as a legitimate selection choice in a team that is mounting a title challenge.)
Rob Holding has not fared well since he left. A regular at Arsenal a few years ago and sadly now excluded from the Palace first team squad. It can be a slippery slope for some players once they are out of favour.
He’s like the anti-Samson. The more hair he has the worse he gets.
There will always be that FA Cup final when he bullied Costa. And when he sent that orc cunt Arnautovic flying towards certain injury.
Ahhhh good times!
Well, not exactly, in the Cup final, Costa gets the better of him pretty often (in fairness, Costa was in brilliant form and surely the best striker in the league). It’s Mertesacker who repeatedly comes to the rescue. Rob’s attitude and combativeness were memorable and he deserves to be well-remembered by Arsenal supporters. But Per won it for us. One of the great Arsenal performances.
Jesus is a key player. Tomi is drawing interest from Juventus, and Motta is one of the best coaches in the game; he know what he would be getting: one of the best individual lockdown defenders in the game with spotless intangibles. I’d much rather sell Kiwior.
Tomiyasu has always been really good for once whenever he’s had a run of games, but unfortunately he’s had so many injuries that it seems each time he is settling in as a starter and injury will hit. I fear we will lose him soon as with Timber and Calafiori coming in and Arteta still giving Zinchenko chances when healthy it’s going to be tough for him to find playing time and he is too good of a player to be content with being the 3rd or 4th defender off of the bench given how solid a starting backline we… Read more »
As they say in the US, the best ability is availability.
I don’t understand the rush to part ways with good players. It’s a squad game and the names you mention are outstanding squad options. They don’t need to be first choice to add value. Injury history starts to worry me when it’s the same type of injury again and again or if the player’s game is based on burst/explosiveness, or if they are 30 and above. So basically, it’s annoying but I’m not worried about those guys. Every team is dealing with these types of situations.
I really rate Tomi especially after job he did on Salah, but your right in that’s a long time ago. Hopefully he gets a clean run and is one worth preserving with .
Zincks is very unlucky as he would be the Giles Grimandi just now or the Gio Van Bronch and get games in midfield and defence but fact is he isn’t fit when we need him most so shame but ya he’s nearer the exit door than anything else
I think Tomi is more analogous to the likes of Grimandi than Zin is for me. Zin offers a very specific skillset that is particularly useful in games where we have higher levels of possession. Tomi, like Giles, feels very much like someone who can step in play in a host of positions and game states, but with a far more expansive skillset. I love Giles, mostly because he was a bit of a b*stard though.
Fair enough but this season thus far could have unlocked Zincks ability to play in the 8 role and LWB in the city game but anyhow long season yet , let’s see what he’s made of
Yeah, unlocking Zin as an 8 would have opened up so much for both him and the team
…………….Raya
Heaven…Kiwi…Cala….Lewis Myles
……………..Jorgi
…………Ethan….Rice
Sterling …..Jesus…..Marti
Jesus needs to do something, I was mad with him conceding needless free against city he should have moved up pitch and drawn fouls but anyhow, he has alot to prove and hopefully few goals will ignite him no more than gabi marti.
Rice the pudgy fooker needs to get fitter so he needs a good run out too, I’d worry about too many left footers in CB , but can we really play Maldini, LMS and Heaven in a back 4
“Without much in reserve, it’s been speculated the Gunners could be forced to field 16-year-old Jack Porter between the sticks.” Ummm…why? We have Neto, don’t we?
ah…he’s cup-tied…my bad…should have read the full article before commenting
He’s cup tied !
Any ITKs knowing who is the “big” injury Arteta was hinting about?
Rodri
Arteta just mentioned he has one serious injury from Sunday, this guy never gives full details, does he?
Raya banged up his knee
With 18 and 17 year old keepers available he would choosing to play a 16 year old
For me, who barely speak English “dark art” is a very funny expression. Imagining Arteta and the players around a big cauldron in a cold night practicing some black magic is a bit strange. But who knows… Maybe Wenger knows.
Didn’t we buy an 18-year old goalie from Ajax? Is hej injured as well?
Both Setford and Nygaard are injured.
Unfortunately this would be a game that Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, Tierney, etc. would get to play allowing us to rest key players, but as it is we will likely see the same backline we saw on Sunday (though prefer Timber doesn’t see the pitch at all to get a proper rest after missing last year) with Jorginho likely in front of them. Wonder if Lewis-Skelly can play RB? Likely to see Sterling, Jesus and Havertz across the attack with Trossard) and I’d guess Nwaneri in the midfield. Martinelli, Partey, Saka, Rice, etc can get some minutes to give Havertz anyone needing… Read more »
MLS was seeing time at LB so that’s where I hope to see him