Arsenal are facing a second game in a row without Bukayo Saka after the England international missed yesterday’s open training session ahead of this evening’s match with Shakhtar Donetsk.
The 23-year-old is still recovering from a hamstring problem picked up on international duty and even though the issue isn’t deemed serious, it’s likely he won’t be risked, as was the case at the weekend when he sat out the defeat to Bournemouth.
The decision is likely influenced by the upcoming schedule with Liverpool visiting the Emirates on Sunday before a tough run of November fixtures at Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea.
While manager Mikel Arteta confirmed yesterday that Jurrien Timber is close to a return from the muscular problem sustained in the 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the month, the Dutchman also missed yesterday’s training. In all likelihood, Raheem Sterling and Ben White will play on the right flank this evening.
Martin Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are also sidelined with ankle, knee and hamstring injuries respectively.
Arsenal are unbeaten after two matches in the revamped Champions League league phase. A win against tonight’s Ukrainian opponents would put Arteta’s side in a solid position to finish in the top 24 teams, guaranteeing qualification for the knockout phase play-off at a minimum.
After the defeat to Bournemouth, nothing can be taken for granted, especially against an opponent who are flying the flag for their wartorn country.
“Obviously, [we have] a lot of sympathy for the situation that they’re in,” said Arteta in yesterday’s press conference.
“The incredible attitude they’re having towards the situation and the things that they have to put in place to continue to be able to play football matches at this level and compete in the way they do, it’s remarkable and we’ll welcome them here tomorrow in the best possible way.”
The manager’s sentiments were echoed by midfielder Mikel Merino, who added: “Sitting right here, I cannot even think about what they must be feeling or what life is like. But, obviously, we are all empathetic.
“I wish them all the best for their careers, for their lives. Hopefully this situation stops as soon as possible but obviously we cannot control that from here. We will try to host them in the best manner possible.”
Praying they’re ready for Liverpool because we’ll have a torrid time without them. Facing them without Saliba is already bad enough.
People can’t take reality in these comment sections
You must be new! Rules of internet comments/minimising downvotes:
1) Always say something outrageously positive and never question or raise concerns, no matter how legitimate. Otherwise expect a pile on.
2) If we lose, regardless of the circumstances, be angry at the players and the manager. It’s always completely their fault.
3) If you have something on your mind and feel like you have to share it, make sure it is phrased in a completely vanilla way. Nothing which might spark any kind of debate, even if it’s a healthy debate.
Kind of how a cult works.
I downvoted you as I knew you’d appreciate it
Seems odd that you would care about minimising down votes if you’re interested in a healthy debate
I downvote you based on your item 3.
What is reality?
Ah man, no Tierney?
Didn’t see Abuo Diaby in the training pictures either so he must not be available
Nigel Winterburn could be in the squad though. But no way he starts, you know how conservative Arteta is…
Pat Rice needs to be starting this match and bring back Stroller George next to Big Gaby
clever tactic, which is no less than you’d expect given Arteta has recently added Herbert Chapman to his coaching staff
Good. No need to risk anything with the remaining games before the next interlull !
We need to beat Liverpool!
We will. Both Jurrien and Bukayo will be available as Mikel is load managing them tonight 🙂
We need to beat Shaktar Donettes!
Prefer them filled with jam or custard myself.
(somewhere Homer Simpson: “mmm….Donetsk”)
Just gets better and better.
having 4/5 left backs injured (zinny, timber, tomi, kieran and cala a few weeks ago) has to be one of the most memorable arsenal nursery moments i can recall. there’s also that time when szczesny got injured, so we had to play fabianski the next game, who got injured during that match and had to be replaced with manoni, who ended the game with an injury as well. we had to bring old jens out of retirement after that. arsenal are funny.
For Saka injury, has Mikel been playing double bluff by underplaying its severity? If he hasn’t trained till now (about 10 days), injury can’t be minor. I wouldn’t count on him being a starter even against Pool.
So what do you say about Carsley who said he would have been fit to face Finland if Arsenal hadn’t pulled him from the grouo as a precaution?
Just relax.
Did Carsley say that?
More or less, but it was before Saka had a scan so I wouldn’t place all my hopes and dreams on that comment
A journalist worth his salt would ask (without pushing or offending) should ask following: J: Hi Mikel, so when is Martin likely to return? 1 week? 2 weeks? 3 months? A: Well we need to see what stage of the recovery waffle waffle … J: So what is the injury? A: Im no doctor to assess waffle waffle… J: Do you not talk with the club doctor? Have they not informed you? M: The things we can control of the unknowns of the stage we need to be and see what we can do about what we want ro do… Read more »
Spare a thought for PGMOL. They don’t get to take charge of this game, so unless they have a trained assassin in the crowd, we might be allowed to play a whole game with 11 players.
You missed the new rule changes they made this year. It works on a handicap system. Before a match starts, the refs get together and calculate the handicap for each team. Then they give yellows and reds until the handicap is met. This way, teams with different skill levels can play together.
Starting Lineup for today could be:
Raya
White—Rice—Gabriel—Cali
Trossard*—Partey—Merino
Jesus— Harvetz—Sterling
(Or replace Trossard with Nwaneri)
Kiwior and Zin are fit, we’ll see one of those two starting in the back four before Rice does. If Martinelli’s fit he starts over one of Jesus or Sterling. Despite some fans on social media attempting to vilify him for not scoring our only chance on Sat, he made a real difference when he came on and was in great form pre-interlul.
Maybe:
Raya
White-Gabriel-Cali-Zinny
Jorginho-Rice
Nwaneri
Sterling-Jesus-Martinelli
Kiwior was his choice to replace Saliba in game, and I think that’s a fine choice again here. Allows the most continuity.
This must be why theres 100s of tickets on the exchange!
I’d like to see Gabby Jesus play from the start tonight, either RW or up front. He was fantastic in our champions league group last year and we need somebody with quick feet and quick thinking, even if he’s not a direct goal threat
Raya
White Kiwior Gabriel Calafiori
Rice
Nwaneri Merino
Jesus Havertz Martinelli
Would also be fine with Jorginho plus Rice/Merino ahead of him. Or, Havertz could drop into RCM and Jesus plays CF. The latter may be most likely.