Mikel Arteta says David Raya faces a late fitness test ahead of tomorrow’s clash match with Leicester.
The Spain international missed Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Bolton due to a muscular injury picked up at the Etihad last Sunday and could be replaced by loan signing Neto.
“We have to wait another 24 hours. We have to wait 24 hours to see if he’s looking good or not that good,” Arteta told his pre-game press conference.
“It’s not about risk, it’s about if a player is available or not and when we have that clarity for Leicester, which is the main thing we are thinking about at the moment, we’ll make the decision tomorrow.”
Neto, 35, has plenty of Premier League experience having spent the last two seasons as Bournemouth’s first-choice stopper. He also has the backing of the boss who said: “He’s played in various countries at the highest level in different roles and he’s always fulfilled it in the right way.
“I believe he was the right player [to sign] because he was in the Premier League, he had experience and he’s someone we can throw there at any moment.”
Arteta is here for his presser.
On Raya: "We have to wait another 24 hours. We have to wait 24 hours to see if it is looking good or not.
"It's not about risk. It is about a player being fit or available. We will make a decision tomorrow."
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) September 27, 2024
While losing Raya would definitely be a blow, there was more positive news on other members of the squad.
Both Jurrien Timber and Ben White returned to full training today and could be part of the squad while Leandro Trossard is back after serving his one-game suspension.
Elsewhere, long-term absentees Mikel Merino and Takehiro Tomiyasu also took part in partial training today as they edge closer to full fitness.
Merino fractured his shoulder in his first full session after joining from Real Sociedad a month ago while Tomi has been struggling with a knee injury picked up days into pre-season training.
“Tomorrow is too soon [for Merino], next week, we’ll see,” said Arteta. “He had partial training today, he’s been working so hard and he’s looking good. It’s just about the healing of that bone, how mature that is and to expose him to contact basically.”
On his Japan international, he added: “He had a partial training today and he looked good.
“He’s progressing really well. He’s probably a little bit behind Mikel [Merino], but we don’t know with Tomi because he’s another one that pushes every single day, but he’s in a good place now, I think.”
Arteta also confirmed that youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly has recovered from a busy week that saw him make his first two competitive appearances for the club. The academy graduate appeared to be in a lot of discomfort when he was subbed on Wednesday but apparently only had cramp.
Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko remain out with hamstring and calf problems respectively.
We arrive, we win ! C’mon you Gooners.
It’s a long season, don’t risk players if they could be out for even longer.
Is there any update on possible ligament damage to Gabriel’s vocal cords after the previous two Sundays?
Not gonna lie, you had me at the beginning.
Had me in the first half, for real! My eyes widened and my heartbeat quickened for a fleeting moment there, thankfully.
I hope not, he could make a real second career for himself making bird calls from those exclamations.
He could learn something tomorrow.
No one does a great tit impression like Jamie Vardy.
A more positive update than I expected. Man alive, if/when we have a full squad, we are gonna be some fricking force (not that we aren’t already).
Very excited to see Merino in the left 8 role , going to be different levels
Has Pep commented on if Haaland has recovered from his fractured ego?
Don’t risk Raya please. Neto should be able to take care of Leicester. We don’t expect too much pressure on the goalie anyway
I know that he’s a geriatric now and we are a lot better defensively, but I would not discount Vardy’s threat so easily. Just like Kane and Drogba he has a knack of finding the goal against us.
There, I have done my bit of reverse jinxing. 🤗
You realise if you say that at the end you reverse the reverse jinx right?
😏😀
Oh God! I give up.. its almost like its best to leave it to a team of superb footballers to defeat a currently winless side.
Now that you’ve mentioned it, you’ve gotten the reverse jinx back on track.
Tomi might recover in time for the international matches, get some good minutes and match fitness only to pick up a calf strain on the plane back that keeps him out till the November international break
Great news to mikel and Tomi back , both great additions to the squad
When fit, this is a really deep squad. I have to remind myself that Tomiyasu was our first-choice left back not too long ago. For fuck’s sake, Raheem Sterling on the bench. (Chelsea’s idiocy is not quite as much help as having a sportwashing oil state buy us players, but I am still thankful.)
I just realized we have 7 players who can play at Left back!
Plus havertz has played there for Germany!
Counting Saka?
Oh that makes it 9. Holy cow!
🤣