Arsenal are set to face Bournemouth in the Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday evening.
The league season is all but over for Mikel Arteta’s team, with Liverpool being crowned champions last weekend, meaning the Gunners have very little left to fight for domestically.
However, Arsenal narrowly lost to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday, meaning they have plenty still to play for in Europe.
Arteta will be without Gabriel Magalhaes, as well as the likes of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu for the clash with the Cherries, with these absentees hindering the Spaniard’s ability to make wholesale changes.
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Mikel Arteta issues triple injury update ahead of Bournemouth
Aside from the long-term absentees, Arteta’s ensemble should be approaching full fitness.
Mikel Merino and Ben White missed Arsenal’s last league game against Crystal Palace, although both were fit and featured in the PSG first leg.
However, Riccardo Calafiori and Jorginho remained sidelined with knee and chest injuries, respectively, with the former now missing the Gunners’ last eight matches.
Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Arteta provided an update on the two Italians, as well as Havertz.
“I think so [Havertz could return],” he said.
“If everything goes the way it’s going at the moment, I think he will have the chance to play a few games this season.
“He’s [Calafiori] still out.
“It [Jorginho’s injury] got a bit more complicated than expected. He’s fine, he’s recovering well.
“I think so, yeah [we will see Jorginho again this season].”
Riccardo Calafiori should feature for Arsenal against PSG
If Calafiori is deemed fit enough to feature in any capacity against Bournemouth, then Arteta must aim to give him some minutes off the bench in the game.
The Gunners made just two substitutes against PSG, both of which came late in the game, with the Arsenal boss evidently not trusting the options available to him on the sidelines.
However, Calafiori could be a potentially valuable option for Arteta to call upon, with the Italy international’s powerful running and ability to roam making him an intriguing proposition for PSG to face late on.
Arsenal need a different look they can pose to the French side later in the game, and Calafiori may be the only player in the squad who won’t start in Paris who can do so.
Thus, it’s imperative he gets something of a warm-up against Bournemouth.
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