Mikel Arteta has addressed fears that Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and David Raya may miss Arsenal’s Premier League season opener after they reached the Euro 2024 final.
Wolves visit Emirates Stadium on August 17 to kick off the 2024/25 season in north London next month. Arsenal will hope the Old Gold’s trip to the capital sees Arteta and his team get off on the right foot as the Gunners bid to win their first Premier League title since 2003/04.
Arsenal have finished second best to Manchester City in the last two seasons and took their bid to the last day last term. But fears have arisen that Rice, Aaron Ramsdale, Saka and Raya may miss Arsenal’s clash with Wolves after England and Spain contested the Euro 2024 final.
Mikel Arteta is confident Arsenal’s Euro 2024 finalists will not miss Wolves’ visit
Only Saka and Rice played pivotal roles in their country’s quest in Germany as essential parts of Gareth Southgate’s England team. Ramsdale failed to feature for a single second and Raya only played Spain’s final group stage game. But their involvement could cause Arteta issues.
With Saka, Rice, Ramsdale and Raya only starting their three-week holiday on July 15, Arteta does not expect the players to return to London Colney until August 5. They will also all miss Arsenal’s pre-season tour before starting their fitness tests on the eve of the new campaign.
READ MORE: Arsenal pre-season tour 2024 – destination, fixtures, how to watch and more
But Arteta does not expect Saka, Rice, Ramsdale and Raya will have to miss Arsenal’s match against Wolves on August 17. The Spaniard is confident that the quartet will all be fit in time for their first game of the new Premier League season, providing they return in good shape.
“I do not think so,” Arteta said in his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s friendly with AFC Bournemouth. “Let’s see what condition they come back in.
“All of the messages I have got from them [claim] they are really excited to come back and have a great season again. I do not expect anything else.”
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and David Raya could face Lyon for their first minutes
Wolves visiting Arsenal to start the 2024/25 Premier League season 12 days after Saka, Rice, Raya and Ramsdale are set to report back should indeed allow the quartet time to ease any concerns that they may miss the match. The Gunners also have two friendlies in that period.
It is unlikely that Arteta will afford Saka, Rice, Raya and Ramsdale any minutes when Arsenal host Granit Xhaka and his Bundesliga-winning Bayer Leverkusen teammates on August 7. It will likely be too soon after the quartet’s return but Lyon visit Emirates Stadium on the 11th.
The Emirates Cup should at least allow Rice, Saka and Raya the chance to get some minutes under their belts. Arteta will want the trio to have at least some game time ahead of Wolves arriving in N5. It could be risky to give them their first starts on the first day of the campaign.
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