Mikel Arteta was typically coy on the subject of his squad’s fitness in his pre-Liverpool press conference.
While the manager hinted one of his injured players may be in a position to train tomorrow, he wouldn’t name names.
“No real changes in the rest of the players who were injured. We have some hope with one of them, tomorrow maybe he’s able to train. We’ll have to see,” said Arteta on Friday afternoon.
Pressed on the identity of the player, he smiled and said: “I’m not going to tell you.”
🗣️ “We have some hope with one of them, tomorrow maybe he’s able to train. We’ll have to see. I’m not going to tell you! [who].”
Mikel Arteta says there is no new team news but says an unnamed player could be fit for Liverpool this weekend. pic.twitter.com/3NJlihnqap
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 7, 2023
Given Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mo Elneny are out for the season, that leaves Eddie Nketiah and William Saliba as possible returnees. The former has been sidelined by an ankle issue since the start of March while the latter is struggling with a back issue that is thought to have originated during the 3-0 win over Fulham.
Neither player is expected to make the trip to Anfield but if one or other is able to train that at least comes as a bonus heading into the final seven weeks of the campaign.
In all likelihood, Rob Holding will continue to deputise for Saliba while Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard will challenge for two of the three available positions up front.
Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka has shaken off the illness that meant he started last weekend’s win over Leeds United on the bench.
If Mikel was a poker player, he wouldn’t even show his cards after he was called.
If it is Saliba, I’m not sure I’m too keen on him playing away at Anfield (Stillman was right!) after two training sessions.
The lad hasn’t played for three weeks.
Must be a really tough decision for Mikel and his team.
Rob Holding would get the job done.
Seconded. Rob does the job.
He will be the worst player ever. Imagine him getting a bad beating from a Donkey.
Haha! Yeah, but I bet he could convince the guy with the best hand that, in fact, his hand was better.
Man got Xhaka and Flo to sign da ting.
*Xhaka signed no ting. But his bags were packed. And we all know how annoying unpacking is, especially when you only packed it all a few days earlier. Plus he would’ve had to change all his Deutsche Marks back into Sterling at the bureaux de change.
I thought Sterling went to Chelsea. Like everyone else.
You can’t fool us, Mikel! Saliba is fit and will play at Anfield! You did this with Trossard at Fulham a few weeks ago. My guess is that Saliba could have even played against Leeds but you deliberately held him back and gave him an extra week to fully recover. Giving Holding a run-out against the relegation-threatened Yorkshire side was a smart move too: he needed a nice easy game.
Now let’s go the Anfield and kick some Scouse ass!
As far as I know Arsenal has not released any pictures/ videos of our training sessions since the Leeds game. One is training and the other is fit. 😂 😂
I think it’s actually Eddie who is training…
and Arteta is going to play him at CB.
That would be such a psych.
Don’t be stupid!!!
Eddie will play at left-back.
Hahaha! Yeah but you have to say “as an inverted left-back”. Then it actually makes perfect sense.
My wife sometimes asks me why I’m such a crap husband. I tell her I’m an inverted husband.
When you’re an inverted husband it’s great.
My wife will say, “Where were you for dinner?” And I’ll reply “At thorpe park”.
And there’s nothing she can do because she knows I’m inverted so can go anywhere.
You’ve got that wrong.
You’re not an inverted husband, you’re a False Husband. You pretend like you’re a big man up top but actually you’re a smaller man lower down who likes to play in the holes.
😂😂😂
hahaaa!
Eddie right back, White moves central of course. 😉
Good to know that one of Nketiah and Saliba is training.
I think Nketiah will be the returnee.
Maybe Cazorla is finally fit for us again…
One thing is for sure, it won’t be Diaby!
Man, he was so good for us in that game!
As long as white is fit and on top of his game at anfield I have less worry about holding against the likes of jota (cheat), and gakpo (strong)
Forgot about Jota, he has done some damage against us, can see him targeting Rob for a red, stay on your feet Rob and no Holding in the area..
jota is a player i dislike because he’s a cheat, but also because he’s quite good.
I have been very impressed by Trossard and I was wondering if Odegard ever got injured would Trossard be able to play that role? Also with the Liverpool game do we go with Martinelli, Saka, Jesus, Odegard or do we go with Martinelli,Saka, Trossard, and Odegard. It has to be between Trossard or Jesus. Martinelli will destroy Trent Alexander on the left.
Nice observation and its a selection headache.
I think Jesus should start as he can cause chaos and he is tricky.
Would have loved Trossard to start ahead of My Nelli but any of them is fine.
I’d play Ben White alongside Gabrielle. Tierney and zinchenko at fullback.
Unfortunately, none of the Liverpool players I wanted to get red cards against Chelsea got red cards. I tried my best.
How did you try your best? Were you at the VAR room?
I suspect that a box of pins and a wax effigy of Howard Webb were involved.
Holding has been surprisingly good standing in for Saliba. But against the quick Liverpool forwards, he is too slow. Arteta will regret not having given Jakub Kiwior more minutes, preparing him for a match like this.