Mikel Arteta has provided the latest fitness news ahead of tomorrow night’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.
Although there haven’t been any serious problems, the Gunners have had a few injury worries during pre-season, and the manager expanded slightly on some of those at his first pre-game press conference.
The doubts have surrounded Kieran Tierney, who is still making his way back after knee surgery in April; Emile Smith Rowe who has a groin strain; new signing Fabio Vieira and his ankle; and right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The Spaniard suggest three of the four could be involved tomorrow, assuming they come through today’s training session without any aggravation. However, he wouldn’t specify which three – although it’s believed Smith Rowe needs more time to recover from his problem than the others.
Beyond that, it appears Arsenal have no other issues to contend with ahead of what’s going to be a challenging night at Selhurst Park.
Having three first teamers very injury prone is a real worry.
But our summer dealings have hopefully eased the burden. Viera can play where ESR plays, Zinnie is a like for like with Tierney and Saliba has eased our RB concerns.
Good work plugging those holes.
Let’s just not even think about a Thomas Partey absence.
Zinniebis nowhere defensively where tierney is, but adds much more in attack.
I think either his absence or his presence have the capacity to sink our season so the club should get ahead of it or suffer the consequences
I’m just referring to Thomas Partey as a slightly injury prone player. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Yes and I love Emmanuel Adebayor.
I’m just focusing on the football. It’s not my place to make judgements until a court does.
I appreciate your stance, not an easy topic to manage otherwise but of course it involves strong emotions and difficult dilemmas which aren’t for this comment section at the moment. Not trying to imply you were disingenuous before. Obviously the situation can involve a degree of imposed blindness that can feel absurd (although necessary if suspending all judgement or doubt).
No, I completely agree with you pal.
It’s such a shame given how much positivity there is flowing through the club so I’m just trying to harness that and not thinking too much about anything else.
It‘s Vieira, not Viera. As a Gooner, you really should know how to spell that particular name.
Yeah man, really struggled with dyslexia throughout my childhood and it meant I was always bottom of my class for everything. Really took its toll on me…
Nah, just kidding, I’m a moron 😊
Tierney really?! It’s been almost 4 months and he still ain’t ready… I’m getting Wilshere fitness vibes… A part from it, The good thing is that we have good players that can replace them in the meantime. So guys take all the time you need to get fit and remember, no rush!
Hope to see them all soon. Big season for ESR I think. Sorry to go off the rails here. I love Gabriel Jesus, he’s just what we need, but I have been slandered for suggesting that we need another forward to take the pressure of him and Nketiah over the course of the season with additional strain of world cup and Europa League. I’m just curious as to whether we could look to sort that out as more outgoings are done and we get to the deadline. But I think it’s more important to take off the pressure from Jesus… Read more »
Totally agree with the striker situation. We have plenty of players who can play wide or attacking midfield. At the moment we are one bad injury to Jesus from being in a bit of trouble up front.
Want to add that there are many examples of having an overload of strikers at a club at one time, not least ours through the early Wenger years when we had various combinations of Kanu, Wiltord, Anelka, Bergkamp, Wright, Henry, RVP, Suker, Aliadiere, Jeffers, Hartson, and Diawara. What I remember is how good it felt having a player like Kanu to come off the bench and put 3 in at Stamford Bridge.
If we can’t sell Pepe then we’re sorted out wide, plus Gabriel can play there. Let’s get another striker in.
Firepower = Goals.
Yeah it’s interesting, and many feel that at this stage of our development it’s not necessary because of the priority of positions that still need sorting like CM and right winger. But I just don’t think it’s a great idea to be light upfront, but what I’ve been thinking is, Arteta would probably look to sign a versatile winger who can play upfront as a false 9-ish Jesus kind of way, or would it be a different type of style to Nketiah and Jesus. I’m interested to see how they do this in terms of profile, if they do it… Read more »
Martinelli as 3rd striker option?
Martinelli will have his hands full where he is I think, that’s not a sustainable solution at all and I’ve seen it suggested a few times now. Martinelli doesn’t even have true competition for the left wing apart from ESR, and you could say the jury is out on him being there rather than that number 10 position he was meant for imo, idk I guess it’s open to discussion because Fabio was also bought with the knowledge that he can play in Saka’s position also.
I’ve wanted to see it for ages but MA just hasn’t tried it out, not even in preseason, so I guess for him it’s not a viable option.
August 1997 was the last time I looked forward to a season as much as I’m looking forward to this one.
Ditto. Yeah, that close season when we signed Overmars and Petit was a good one.
And the proof was in the pudding, because we went on to do the double.
Fond memories of our yellow and blue ‘Weetabix’ away kit.
That Overmars goal at Old Trafford…..
And that dude at the end celebrating in the Gooners section with the bulging eyes! 😂
Finally a comment everyone agrees on. What’s with the downvotes on most comments here today? Is it a pre-season anxiety or we have a horde of shittingham fans shitting on anything and everything ?
I think you’ll find it’s the latter.
We have some little friends who can’t help themselves but to take a peek.
LITTLE being the operative word.
Go and grab a coke and chat about 1961, you losers. 😂
Sorry maybe I’ve dreamt this but I’m sure Tierney played in one of the early pre-season games?
No he had short cameo against nürnberg if im right
He played 30 minutes and the German team
should be against the German team
I like “and” better… Makes him come across as the fearsome all-conquering highlander that we know he can be.
I shudder to think of the days of Kolasinac, Mustafi, Sokratis and Lichtsteiner. Now that we landed Zinchenko and White, even if don’t have available two starter full-backs, the back four looks solid and ready!
Mustafi came with such promise and for a while he seemed the right guy. A German world cup winner who seemed like the answer to many of our defensive woes. He didn’t have a bad start at all and then it all turned to shit.
All the best to him wherever he is and I’m glad it’s not with us.
Zinchenko, Tierney, Gabriel, Saliba, White and Tomiyasu… we have strength in depth in case one or two are injured at any given time. If they are all fit I think we will see some rotation during the season (except perhaps Gabriel at LCB).
Feels really good to have these quality options. All international-calibre players and the scary thing for the opposition is that given their age profile, attributes and experience, they can develop to become even better – both collectively and as a unit.
If Tommi is out, then it has to be Ben White at RB.
Love Patrick Vieira to bits, but it’s gotta be payback time tomorrow night. COYG!!!
I thought Wilshere retired?
We got to beat the Eagles tomorrow – that’s how we need to start this glorious season.
COYG!!!
We should still get a win at Palace without those four.
Tierney and Tomiyasu were nailed on last season in the first 11, but I got a hunch that Mikel’s first choice back four now will be White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko. At least until the Europa starts.
We’re not at that point yet but, if everyone is fit, I think Tomi would start meaning it’s a choice between White and Saliba. Who wins that battle?