Mikel Arteta has given fitness updates on Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, and Gabriel Martinelli ahead of Arsenal’s game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.
Ahead of a Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk and a big Premier League match against Liverpool this week, Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of a few of their key players.
Among the list are Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, and Mikel Arteta suggests that whilst both are progressing well, only one has a chance to feature on Tuesday.
“They are closer. They are both progressing really well,” Arteta said.
“Martin is still not fit. Let’s see how Bukayo is after the training session later on.”
Jurrien Timber also missed Arsenal’s game against Bournemouth at the weekend, but the good news is that he’s at least in contention to return against Shakhtar.
“He’s going to be close,” Arteta said of Timber. “We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group. It was a muscular injury.”
As for Gabriel Martinelli, after pulling out of the international break, the winger made a substitute appearance for Arsenal on Saturday.
Arteta has now confirmed that the player “wasn’t fit enough to start the game”. Hopefully, Tuesday is a different story.
Loan goalkeeper Neto will return to the squad after being ineligible against parent club Bournemouth, whilst William Saliba will be available despite his red card at the weekend, as he’ll serve his suspension domestically against Liverpool.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are Arsenal’s other two injury absentees at the moment.