Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued an injury update ahead of this weekend’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The Gunners have a number of fitness issues in their camp, having played several matches in a short space of time.
This rampant fixture schedule is set to continue, as Arteta’s team travel north of London for the first time since November when they took on Sporting in the Champions League.
Relegation-threatened Wolves await in the West Midlands, in a crucial clash that Arsenal cannot afford to lose if they want to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal fans are infuriated by the selection of Michael Oliver for this encounter, although this may not be the only concern for the North London faithful, with the depleted nature of Arteta’s squad making this a potentially tricky trip to face Vitor Pereira’s side.
Arsenal injury update for Wolves clash
Bukayo Saka is out until at least March after undergoing hamstring surgery, while Gabriel Jesus is sidelined for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
Ben White returned to training earlier this week, although the Englishman isn’t expected to return to action in time for the Wolves game, nor is Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Both William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly missed Arsenal’s clash with Dynamo Zagreb in midweek, and Arteta has provided an update regarding the duo’s potential availability against Wolves.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday morning, the tactician revealed that both could feature in the game.
“With Myles there is nothing serious with the scan, so it’ll be a matter of today’s meeting with the medical staff and our training session,” he said.
“We’ll see whether it’s too early or not.”
“With Willy [Saliba], it’s something similar as well. I think he’ll definitely be in for next week, but for this week let’s see how it goes.
“Ben White is still not available.”
While Arteta’s comments weren’t definitive, just potentially having the duo back will be a huge boost in morale for a deflated Arsenal fanbase and squad.
If both remain absent, Arsenal may be forced to rely upon the likes of Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko again.
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Wolves injury updates and status
With Wolves set to host title contenders Arsenal, there are a number of issues facing Pereira and his side.
Centre-back Yerson Mosquera is out for the season with a knee injury, while Enso Gonzalez Medina also won’t feature again this campaign.
Meanwhile, lanky striker Sasa Kaldjzic is unavailable until March.
Toti Gomes, Boubacar Traore and Mario Lemina are all doubts through various fitness problems.
However, perhaps Pereira’s biggest concern is Arsenal target and talisman Matheus Cunha, and whether the Brazilian is still committed to the Old Gold.
Cunha’s agent is starting to make ‘noise’ around a potential departure from Wolves, and Pereira openly claimed after his team’s defeat to Chelsea that the forward is distracted by the transfer links.
This distraction could play into Arsenal’s hands, as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointment against Aston Villa.
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