Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided positive updates on his squad’s fitness ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against Luton Town on Wednesday, April 3rd.
The Gunners, currently neck-and-neck with Liverpool for the title, will be looking to capitalise on a favourable fixture list to reclaim top spot, if even temporarily.
While Dutch defender Jurrien Timber remains the only absentee due to his ACL injury, Arteta confirmed he is nearing a return to full fitness. The 22-year-old has been back in first-team training for weeks and could potentially feature for the U21s to regain match sharpness before rejoining the senior side.
While a specific return date wasn’t confirmed, Arteta expressed optimism, stating, “I think he’s got a good chance [to play before the season ends].” A return could also see Timber in contention for a surprise late call-up to the Netherlands’ European Championship squad.
Concerns surrounding winger Bukayo Saka‘s fitness dominated the pre-match press conference. Saka was substituted late on during the weekend’s draw with Manchester City, raising fears about his availability for the Luton match. Arteta, however, downplayed the seriousness of the issue, stating, “He is fine.” A final decision on his involvement against Luton will be made after a training session on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, fellow winger Gabriel Martinelli has recovered from a recent foot injury and is available to start against Luton. Martinelli missed two matches prior to the international break and came on as a substitute against City. His return provides Arteta with a welcome selection headache, with Gabriel Jesus also capable of playing on the left flank.
With a hectic schedule and the title race reaching its climax, Arteta emphasised the importance of a fully fit squad. Amazingly, Arsenal have an almost empty treatment room, with key players like Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Gabriel Jesus getting minutes against City, while Oleksandr Zinchenko remained an unused substitute.
Arteta also acknowledged the crucial role fringe players will play in the coming weeks. “We have discussed that and pushing each other and be available to contribute in any way to help us win the game and perform consistently,” he stated. He stressed the importance of these players staying mentally prepared, referencing Reiss Nelson’s impactful cameo appearance against Bournemouth last season as a prime example. “You see a lot of moments, an example is Reiss [Nelson against Bournemouth last season]. His best moment for Arsenal, he played a few minutes and he made a huge impact and it was one of the best days of his life as an Arsenal player.”
Despite the positive updates, Arteta will have key decisions to make regarding his starting lineup for the Luton match. Balancing the need for a win while ensuring his players remain fresh for the upcoming fixtures is a crucial challenge. Arsenal face a quick turnaround, travelling to Brighton on Saturday for a late kick-off.
With a win against Luton, Arsenal have the opportunity to move to the top of the table before Liverpool play their game against Sheffield United on Thursday.