Arsenal have confirmed that Bukayo Saka will be available for Saturday’s clash with West Bromwich Albion.
The England international, who provided the assist for Alex Lacazette’s match-winning strike, had to be subbed off against Brighton with 15 minutes remaining after taking a kick to his ankle. It looked quite serious at first so it’s a relief to hear he’s already back in training.
The Gunners’ medical team have also confirmed that Brazilian duo Willian and David Luiz are in contention have both overcome illness.
Gabriel, who tested positive for Covid-19 last week, continues to self-isolate but is hoping to return to training next week. He should be joined by Thomas Partey who is making good progress with his rehab following a persistent thigh injury.
Hopefully, both will be available for our FA Cup 3rd round clash with Newcastle on 9 January.
bad news 🙁
awful stuff
Yes, shame that Willian, our star player, will stop Saka getting into the team on Saturday…
There’s only one place up for grabs in our front three.
Can’t quite believe it but it’s between Alex and Auba. Everyone else is gunna have to sit this one out and wait for Gabi and Saka to stop being ballers.
Could take a while… Feel free to speak to your respective agents.
Should probably be rested
I agree, WBA is a match that could probably be handled with Pepe on the right. Give Saka a rest until the next one and it could benefit us later in the season.
I disagree. There’s enough time between brighton and west brom. Saka is really finding his feet and playing with power. He looks the fittest we’ve seen him yet. Start him, and if he’s tired sub him off for Pepe. Same with Martinelli and ESR.
We need players on this match that could open a deep defense with a personal move.
Happy for Saka & Gabriel. By the way can we find a loan deal for Willian back to chelski?
Willian and Luiz are not needed now. They can rest more
How about Australia. Or the moon.
It’s been frustrating watching Willian bar the Fulham game but I think it’s too early to consider him a flop. Consider this; 1.Willian knows the league, he doesn’t know the Arsenal system and coming in on the back of injury. 2. Laca knew the league, the system and yet to find his best form after injury. I think Willian needs time (though he should be used sparingly until he rediscover his best form), the same could not be said about Luiz though.
I’m not inclined to give Willian any more chances or excuses. But if I were, the most convincing for me is that he had Hazard and Fabregas to support him. Not Xhaka and Elneny
Yep.
I know this is a safe place to vent but the Willian pile on has become boring now.
Apart from the young lads, no one in the middle or front has exactly been glorious.
I’m willing to hold judgement until we start seeing more cohesive forward play.
Blimey, thought I’d more likely to find a unicorn than someone defending Willian. Seems 2021 is carrying on where 2020 left off!
I will be waiting to read your comment saying: why didn’t he play Luiz in place of Holding?
Why does good news always have to be followed by 💩 news? Saka great news, will-i-aint back in contention certainly isn’t 🙄
A ‘Yay’….’oh fuck’ moment.
Exactly.
Might be rushing Saka? Let him heal for a bit.
That news would seem to define the expression ‘a mixed bag’…
Please do NOT play Willian or Luiz!
Heh. You’re talking to Mikel Arteta here.
He loves his Chelsea Chumps.
If West Brom are just going to sit back in a low block and defend all game – then David Luiz may not be a bad choice in this game because he can plan the deep playmaker role from centre back position. I would start with Holding but if we are struggling to break them down, Luiz might actually have a role to play.
Leno
Hector Holding Mari Tierney
Ceballos Xhaka
Saka ESR Gabi
Balogun
I meant Ceballos and Elneny
I have a feeling both Laca and Auba will start with one of Saka or Martinelli rested. Willian on bench. Xhaka and Ceballos is midfield as you mentioned.
Ceballos xhaka… God, that should be entertaining 🙄
Excellent news regarding Saka.
Those Chelsea muppets, however, can fucking do one.
Willian and Luiz in, Gabriel and Partey out. Ffs. Not cool.
Well aware of the dreaded jinx but there has been a massive improvement in our decade long run of injuries and delayed recovery
I’ve jinxed it haven’t I
No. Willian returns. That’s a jinx in and of itself.
Who out of ESR and Martinelli to drop out for Willian? Doubt they’ll start 3 in a week with their recent history
Auba for Martinelli, ESR to start again, Pepe for Saka
Let’s hope nobody is being rushed back. That’s happened before and no good came of it. We need to continue the good work against WBA who were awful against Leeds but fought Liverpool and City to away draws, something we haven’t managed very often so we’ll have to be on our game, whoever plays.
Luiz is decent to me…..not sure why he keeps being lumped in with Willian levels of dross
William on thhe bench
“Willian on the bus” surely.
No?
Preferably a park bench………In Wuhan City
I think Saka would be very valuable against West Brom, but he should begin on the bench anyway, along with Martinelli. I would risk Smith-Rowe again, with Maitland-Niles and Elneny behind him. Put Pepe on the right with instructions to cut into the middle as often as he can, with Ainsley, Elneny, and Bellerin covering the space he leaves behind. Aubameyang on the right, Lacazette in the middle–but relying on Smith-Rowe to link play, not just Lacazette. Fittest and quickest available as centre halves, which probably means Mari and Holding again.
Makes sense
I’m not sure we’ll ever see ANM in the middle. Arteta certainly doesn’t fancy him.
With his tenacity and athleticism, I’d like to see it just so we know.
Arseblog News had to hide the bad news in the article about Saka being cleared to play.
Gabriel injury though unfortunate, has given Mari a much needed run of games..and i believe he is doing well taking it.
Laca is scoring the goals so deserves to start. I’d play auba Laca pepe and give saka and martinelli a rest, knowing they can make a difference off the bench if needed
Gabriel injury though unfortunate, has given Mari a much needed run of games..and i believe he is doing well taking it…
Good for him..good for the team
Saka is actually a 72 Million player.
.
£100,000,000+
Blimey! Just play our best 11 to keep the momentum going! The youngsters do not need or want a rest!
I think Arteta will start Willian. I and we don’t know why.. But Arteta seems to think he can contribute or is important.
What the actual fuck was the willian signing?
The last two matches have finally revealed how Arteta wants his team to play (most of the Chelsea match; 20 minutes or so in the second half against Brighton). The identity of the style is clear, aggressive and beautiful, and he’s now shown that he can get his team to successfully implement it, so I back him for now.
But the willian signing (and Cedric for that matter) are atrocities. Their and Edu’s mutual connection to Kia reeks of shady business akin to that of Raul. Edu has to go.
what the actual fuck was giving luiz another year on big wages?
what the actual fuck was persuading granit xhaka to stay when a 20 mil offer was on the table.
what the actual fuck was selling martinez a top call keeper for 20 mil about
i could go on but you get the point arteta and edu dont have a clue what they are doing because they are amateurs
Imagine partey in the midfield spraying them diagonals to saka or martinelli, even Smith Rowe when he drifts! Add another creative mid and a firing again auba and it starts to look brighter. Happly new year guys
Happy new gunners year!
I predict we’ll see Willian starting in place of Martinelli.
Hope I’m proved wrong though
Saka really does get 0 protection. Kicked left and right. Don’t want to see him go the same way as Diaby or Wilshere.
With full stadiums, Willian could not be played for long
2 wins ,a start of winning ,finally.Keep it going. Earl in Toronto.