Arsenal youth defenders Josh Ogunnaike and Marli Salmon were both involved in first-team training on Monday, suggesting ongoing uncertainties about the fitness of the senior defenders.
Following Saturday’s FA Cup win over Mansfield Town, the Arsenal first team returned to training on Monday ahead of their Champions League last-16 first leg away to Bayer Leverkusen in midweek.
Social media footage confirms that Max Dowman was unsurprisingly involved in the session, following a starring performance for the Gunners against Mansfield. The midfielder looks set to receive further opportunities in the senior side over the coming weeks.
But it was also notable that both Marli Salmon and Josh Ogunnaike were involved, amid ongoing injury concerns around Ben White, William Saliba, and Riccardo Calafiori. At this stage, it’s unclear whether any of the three will be fit for the Leverkusen match.
Arsenal do still have enough players to name a senior back four in Germany, with Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapie all likely to start if White, Saliba, and Calafiori are out. Myles Lewis-Skelly is also an option.
Hincapie is eligible to feature against his parent club, with UEFA rules not prohibiting such appearances like the Premier League rules do.
Yet it seems Salmon and Ogunnaike could be in line for call-ups as backup options, if Tuesday’s training session doesn’t bring good news.
Mikel Arteta should provide an update to the media in his press conference on Tuesday evening, and Arsenal will hold an open training session in front of the media before that at 11:45 GMT, which should also offer some insight.