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Ernest Victor
Guest
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has provided his team’s injury update as they prepare for their upcoming Premier League match against Bournemouth this weekend.
During a press conference on Friday, Mikel Arteta shared some positive news regarding several key players, starting with Bukayo Saka.
The Spanish tactician said, “Saka has not sustained a serious injury, and he is making significant progress. Over the last couple of days, he has been able to engage in some training activities, and we remain hopeful about his recovery.”
Arteta indicated that the team would hold a training session later today, which would offer further insights into Saka’s fitness and readiness for the match.
Regarding Kai Havertz, Arteta said, “Havertz has been dealing with a few minor issues but has shown incredible professionalism throughout. His communication with the coaching staff has been excellent. If he performs well in today’s training session, he stands a great chance of being fit and available for selection.”
On the situation with Gabriel Martinelli, who recently joined the squad after an injury layoff, Arteta noted, “Martinelli only arrived yesterday afternoon, which limited our time with him. He did manage to go outside for a brief period to assess his condition, and today’s training will be another indicator to determine whether we can safely take a risk on his inclusion. Knowing Martinelli’s determination, I fully expect him to declare himself fit.”
Turning to the injury status of Martin Ødegaard, Arteta confirmed, “Unfortunately, Ødegaard will not be available for this week’s match. However, we anticipate that his situation could change next week. He is in the later stages of his rehabilitation and needs to hit certain markers and participate in specific drills, particularly with the ball. Next week will be pivotal in assessing how close he is to full fitness.”
When asked about the injuries to Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Ben White, Arteta noted, “All three are quite close to returning. We will assess their conditions during today’s training session to determine their availability for the match. We are facing a few challenges with player numbers on the right side, so we are hopeful for some positive updates.”
Note that Arsenal will take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 19.
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