Leandro Trossard is available for Arsenal’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz both have some chance to be involved.
Speaking in his pre-Tottenham Hotspur press conference on Friday, Mikel Arteta confirmed that Leandro Trossard is “fine” to feature against the Gunners’ north London rivals.
Trossard had been substituted late in the midweek game against Wolves after a blow to the jaw, having only entered the contest as a substitute himself. But there was evidently no concussion for the winger, so he’s free to play this weekend.
In other positive news, Arteta told the media that there’s “a big possibility” that Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard will be available for Sunday’s game.
“We have to wait till tomorrow, there is a big possibility that they are available,” the Gunners boss said.
There are no guarantees there, but it would certainly provide a boost to have both back involved.
Arteta also confirmed that there are no fresh injury concerns for Arsenal, which suggests that Bukayo Saka is fit after his own late substitution against Wolves.
In the best-case scenario, where Havertz and Odegaard both make comebacks and Max Dowman is available following his recent return to training, that would leave only Mikel Merino as an enforced absentee on Sunday.
Some other players would have to miss out in that scenario, simply because Arsenal wouldn’t have enough spaces on the bench for all of them. But Arteta would be free to pick almost every player that he might want to include.
By contrast, Spurs are set to be without at least 10 players due to injuries and suspensions, and they could be missing as many as 12 if the final checks on Richarlison and Pedro Porro don’t go well.
Given the context of the Premier League table and Arsenal’s recent dropped points, this is one the Gunners simply have to win.