Mikel Arteta played his cards close to his chest with regards injury updates ahead of Saturday’s visit to Stamford Bridge.
The Arsenal manager is usually quite reluctant to provide detailed information, and he was true to form when asked about the potential availability of Bukayo Saka and William Saliba – both of him were withdrawn from international duty because of hamstring and two injuries respectively.
With the players funnelling back from being away with their countries, the Spaniard’s response to who might be available for selection was, “We haven’t had a lot of players.
“We’re going to do our first training session today and we’ll know more after the session.”
On Saliba’s toe, and whether it might be an ongoing/long-term issue, he replied, “Hopefully not, but obviously he’s been carrying that for weeks now and we have to use that time as well to settle and we believe that it was the best moment to do it.
His place for tomorrow is, according to Arteta, “Depending again how he’s able to train today.”
And on Saka, Arteta said, “He’s been working so hard to be fit for this game and let’s see where he is at today.
“He had a couple of days off that he needed as well. But the rest, unfortunately, is not being [full] rest for him because he needs to do training and get ready to be able against Chelsea.
Beyond that, there was nothing more to report in terms of the squad, so hopefully we’ll have good news when the team drops an hour before kick off tomorrow.
They’re both going to play, aren’t they?
Come on you Gunners!!!
I find it hard to believe that either aren’t fit after two weeks rest and recuperation.
Bukayo was well enough to turn up for the England camp. If he was super crocked, he never would’ve even bothered.
Saliba played our last game for a full 90 mins. Him not being included in the France set-up feels precautionary.
Sorry to quote Keegan but I would absolutely love it if we smashed Chelsea tomorrow. Their semi-decent form has given their supporters a strange cockiness and they need reminding of just how poor and chaotic they are.
COYG!!!
I think Saliba is a definite starter. Saka was essentially there to be assessed by England (even though he played no part v City, and I’m pretty sure we told them he wasn’t available), and I’m hopeful that this time off was just what he needed. I feel like he’s starting too, with Jesus and Martinelli. We are hopefuly getting last season’s front 3 back together again!
Imagine being a journalist and your boss asks you to provide Arsenal’s injury updates…😃😃😃
Simplest job if you ask me. Tell the boss they are all in contention then take a siesta or go run your personal errands. Nobody’s ever been fired for accurate reporting
What’s Saliba’s other injury? 😉
I believe he caused injury to fashion with those red crocks.
These pressers are getting boring by the day aren’t they? No clear answers about fitness to be excited about, and journalist asking the same boring questions in the line of “how important is to win this game? How important is this and that?”
I want intriguing questions to get interesting answers.
What interesting would you ask him if were at the presser?
If you had to fight a seal or a llama, what kind of socks would you wear
if you were a bird what bird would you be
I think its on you to say what interesting question you would ask!
Well as a polyglot myself, I’d ask him which language does he prefer to give instructions to on the pitch and training ground.
Maybe he should give his presser answers in a mixture of basque and catalan since he anyway doesn’t give out any meaningful information. At least it would be fun to try and decipher.
Q: Hi Mikel, I hear Pires and Flamini have been recently training with the squad. Is it possible they feature in the rumoured double inverted French pivot against Chelsea tomorrow?
A: Well they’ve been training hard and with their experience we know they’ll be ready if called upon however there’s a lot of competition and David seaman is also knocking on the door but I wouldn’t like to discuss the goalkeeping situation right now.
No Nketiah please
That’s the spirit
Saliba’s injury is down to that Croc endorsement. No good can come from heinous such footwear.
It’s amazing how things change in football. Some years ago, a game of football between Arsenal and Chelsea was likely to end in a defeat for Arsenal. Any other outcome – especially a win for Arsenal – was deemed an upset. I particularly remember with pain how Mourinho ruined Wenger’s 1000th epl game celebration with a 6-0 whitewash at Stamford Bridge! The scarcely veiled dig at Arsene afterwards was even more painful.
Now, we clearly have the upper hand; I hope it shows tomorrow in a handsome win. COYG!!!
I’m 69 now, but I seem to remember a few years in my younger days that whenever we played Chelsea at Highbury all the action would take place in and around their penalty area but we’d still manage to lose. So I can never feel comfortable about playing Chelsea, and I’m relieved when we win!
I’m just old enough to remember going to The Bridge in the 90’s & coming away with the 3 points every year. That Kanu hat-trick is still burned into my memory as is that Winterburn wonder goal
Is Trossard OK?
Wondering this
Blogs, you mean”toe” injury and not “two” injury, right?