Arsenal have a number of injury issues heading into their Premier League clash with AFC Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta has several decisions to make over his starting lineup as Arsenal travel to the Vitality Stadium, where they have won comfortably in each of the last two seasons.
Arsenal have a strong record against Bournemouth, but Andoni Iraola’s side are a much tougher opponent now than they have been in the past, and Arteta could be without some key players heading into the game.
Arteta has given an update on nine stars who could potentially miss the trip, with the availability of a number of players still unclear.
Mikel Arteta gives injury updates on nine Arsenal stars ahead of Bournemouth
Speaking in a press conference, Arteta has now given updates on nine players who were either injured during the international break, or missed out on their National Team duties as a result.
Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jurrien Timber
“They are quite close, the three of them. Again today we’re going to have to try to push and see how it is because obviously we are getting stronger with the numbers, especially in our right side, but hopefully we have some positive news today and we have some players back for tomorrow,” Arteta claimed when asked about Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
“We don’t know that,” Arteta replied when asked about an injury setback for Takehiro Tomiyasu.
“It doesn’t hopefully look like a long period [out], but we have to see when he comes back and how he reacts to the load and to the impact on the pitch as well.”
Thomas Partey
“Yes. Thomas is fit, yes,” Arteta replied when asked about Thomas Partey.
Martin Odegaard
“Yes, hopefully yes,” Arteta stated when asked if Martin Odegaard could return before the November international break.
Bukayo Saka
“It’s not a serious injury. He’s evolving really well. He’s done a few things in the last two days,” Arteta stated of Bukayo Saka.
“He wasn’t fit enough to play with the national team the second game but we are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon, he did some bits yesterday, so let’s see if he can make it on time.
Gabriel Martinelli
“With Gabby he landed yesterday afternoon here so we have very short time to be with him. Yesterday he went outside to do a little bit and see how he’s feeling. Again today will be another step to understand whether we want to take the risk if he’s fit,” Arteta replied when asked about Gabriel Martinelli.
Kai Havertz
“He had a few issues and we’ve been dealing with that. He’s been absolutely brilliant, he has very good communication with the national team, with the manager,” Arteta said of Kai Havertz.
“They understood the situation, we modified everything that we could do here and again if he trains well today he’s got a good chance to be fit and available.”
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Bournemouth
From Arteta’s comments, it seems that whilst Odegaard and Tomiyasu will be unavailable, some of the doubtful players may be available.
Given the problems White and Timber have faced, Partey may again play at right-back, and this could open up a space in midfield for Mikel Merino to make his first start.
Martinelli could miss out, and Raheem Sterling could keep his place in the starting XI, with Havertz and Saka more likely to be fit.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Bournemouth: David Raya, Thomas Partey, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling.
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