Arsenal’s Injury Concerns Before Bournemouth Clash
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addressed the media ahead of their upcoming Premier League match against Bournemouth. Several key players face injuries, which could impact Arsenal’s lineup. Here’s a breakdown of the key updates from Arteta’s press conference.
Injured and Doubtful Players
- Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney
- Both are long-term absentees and will miss the upcoming match.
- Ben White and Jurrien Timber
- They missed Arsenal’s last game against Southampton before the international break and remain doubts for Bournemouth.
- Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey
- Both withdrew from international duty due to minor issues. However, Partey has been confirmed fit, while Havertz’s availability depends on his training performance before the match.
- Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli
- Saka picked up a knock while playing for England, and Martinelli sustained an injury while representing Brazil. Both will be assessed closer to the match day.
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Arteta’s Thoughts on Key Players
- Bukayo Saka’s Fitness
Arteta mentioned that Saka is a doubt for the Bournemouth game due to an injury sustained during international duty. - Martin Odegaard
While Odegaard won’t be fit for the Bournemouth clash, Arteta is hopeful he will return before the next international break. - Kai Havertz
Havertz has dealt with a few issues, but Arteta is optimistic he may still be fit if he performs well in training. - Takehiro Tomiyasu
Arteta shared concerns about Tomiyasu’s fitness, explaining they don’t know how long he will be out, but hope it’s not for an extended period.
Injury Updates on White, Timber, and Zinchenko
- All three players—Ben White, Jurrien Timber, and Oleksandr Zinchenko—are getting closer to a return. Arteta confirmed they are pushing hard to make a comeback, especially since the team is struggling with numbers on the right side of the pitch.
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Arsenal’s Challenge
Despite the injuries, Arsenal must focus on getting a positive result against Bournemouth to keep pace with top teams like Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League. Arteta will need to find solutions to cover for the missing players.
Sources:
- Football.london: Full coverage of Mikel Arteta’s press conference
- Premier League Updates