Mikel Arteta has provided a positive injury update ahead of Arsenal’s match away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, suggesting three injured players could return.
Arsenal are facing somewhat of a defensive injury crisis at the moment, with William Saliba, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber, and Piero Hincapie all missing the midweek League Cup match against Ipswich Town.
Timber was likely just rested, having only recently returned from his long-term injury lay-off. But there are certainly doubts around all of the others this weekend.
Saliba will definitely be out, but Mikel Arteta suggested in his pre-game press conference that the other three and Timber could be involved.
“[White is] all good,” Arteta began. “We have another training session this afternoon, so very positive about everybody.”
When asked whether that positivity extended to Timber, Mosquera, and Hincapie, Arteta responded: “Yeah, we have another session, they are willing to be part of it and we have another session to try to make sure they are fit.”
Arteta has a habit of being a bit vague with the media on injuries, so we’ll only know for sure whether the four defenders are available for Saturday’s squad when it’s officially released. But it would certainly be great news if they’re all either back in action or very close to a return.
With Saliba’s ongoing absence, Arsenal can’t really afford too many injuries at the back. The Gunners were forced to use midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the full-back positions against Ipswich, alongside youth defender Marli Salmon.
That’s not so bad for a League Cup match, but it’s not so ideal in the big Premier League and Champions League fixtures.
If Arsenal can get through Saturday with another win and no new injuries, the players who are still closing in on a comeback will have the international break to return to full fitness.
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