Viktor Gyokeres and Kepa Arrizabalaga were absent from training for Arsenal on Monday, but Martin Zubimendi was involved despite his early weekend substitution.
Arsenal had a couple of new injury concerns following Saturday’s win over Burnley, with Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi both going off early.
The good news on Zubimendi is that he has immediately returned to training, taking part in a session in front of the media on Monday. Arsenal face Slavia Prague away from home on Tuesday, and training the day before a Champions League game is always open to the press.
Unfortunately, Zubimendi will be ineligible to play for Arsenal in Tuesday’s match anyway, as he picked up a yellow-card suspension in his last appearance.
There wasn’t such a positive update on Gyokeres, with Simon Collings reporting that he wasn’t involved in the session. Kepa Arrizabalaga was also absent, despite not playing at the weekend. If he’s picked up an injury, it wasn’t on the pitch.
With Gyokeres potentially missing out on Tuesday’s game, Mikel Arteta might want to turn to Andre Harriman-Annous once again. The striker started Arsenal’s League Cup game against Brighton and Hove Albion the previous week, and he was involved in training on Monday.
Charles Sagoe Jr. was also involved in the session, and he’s an even easier call-up as he’s ineligible for the Arsenal u19 UEFA Youth League game against Slavia Prague earlier the same day.
Of course, Mikel Merino is another option up front, and the likeliest of the three to start the game. But there would be no harm in having a youth player or two on the bench.
Max Dowman was also involved in training, as he continues to make appearances in the first-team squad as well. With Zubimendi suspended there is certainly space for another midfielder.
If Kepa is out too, Tommy Setford is likely to step into Arsenal’s backup goalkeeper role, and Alexei Rojas is the most likely to be the third choice.
Arsenal always take three keepers to Champions League matches, so whether it’s Rojas or someone else, a youth call-up would be required alongside Setford.
In the only other injury news, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke, and Martin Odegaard all remain absent.