Mikel Arteta has suggested there are doubts over the fitness of a couple of Arsenal players ahead of Sunday’s trip to face Manchester United.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 23, 2024. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 23, 2024. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal have had a couple of injury concerns this week, with Takehiro Tomiyasu missing a training session to do individual work indoors, and Bukayo Saka wearing strapping in training following a kick last weekend against Bournemouth.

When asked about Tomiyasu and Saka in his pre-Manchester United press conference on Friday, Mikel Arteta admitted they were among the doubts for the clash.

“We have a few doubts that tomorrow can resolve because we have another training session so we will have to wait and see,” Arteta said.

“There are doubts over the names that you discussed (Tomiyasu and Saka).”

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Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu reacts after missing to score during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 28, 2024. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

The other major injury question mark will be around Jurrien Timber, who is back from his long-term absence but still hasn’t played a minute of senior football since his return.

Timber has been in training this week, having already played a couple of games for the Arsenal u21s.

With every week that passes, Timber’s first senior game back grows more likely, and he’ll hopefully be ready to step into the squad if Tomiyasu is unavailable.

But with just a week left in the Premier League season, the chances of Timber playing a significant role in the final two games are relatively remote.

Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium, in London, on May 4, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium, in London, on May 4, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Saka should be fine for the Manchester United clash. He’s been training with the squad this week and he completed 86 minutes against Bournemouth, despite suffering the knock early in the first half. It didn’t seem like something that would rule him out.

Tomiyasu will be more of a doubt simply due to his history of injury setbacks, but his training absence earlier this week was supposedly pre-planned and precautionary. With any luck, he’ll be available too.