Mikel Arteta remains optimistic that Arsenal will be “flying” by the time they face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, despite facing some injury concerns.
Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth that ended their unbeaten run, Arsenal managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, but the win came at a cost. Riccardo Calafiori had to be substituted due to injury, potentially joining key players Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka on the sidelines for the Liverpool match. Additionally, William Saliba will be unavailable due to suspension after his red card against Bournemouth.
Arteta expressed confidence during his press conference after the Shakhtar match, stating, “We’ll review, have a day off, then two days to prepare the game. Sunday is far and we’re comfortable we’ll be in the right place.” However, he has several significant injury issues to manage.
Bukayo Saka
The Arsenal winger was present at the Emirates but didn’t play due to an injury sustained while on international duty with England. Although the initial prognosis was hopeful, Arteta’s outlook has shifted. He stated, “At the moment I’m not very hopeful. Let’s see.” Following the match, he confirmed that Saka is not yet training and will not be available for the weekend. His absence would be felt, as he has contributed three goals and seven assists this season.
Martin Ødegaard
The Arsenal captain is also ruled out for the Liverpool clash. In the program notes for the Shakhtar game, Ødegaard provided an encouraging update about his recovery from an ankle injury. He noted that he is improving daily but experiences ups and downs typical of such injuries. Arteta has expressed optimism that Ødegaard could return before the November international break.
Riccardo Calafiori
Calafiori was forced off during the Shakhtar match with a knee injury. Arteta commented on the situation, saying, “Ricci felt something and could not stay on. It’s a bit of a worry.” The extent of Calafiori’s injury is yet to be determined.
Ben White
White was substituted at halftime against Shakhtar, raising concerns about an injury. However, Arteta clarified that the decision was tactical, citing White’s yellow card and the risk of playing with 10 men.
Jurrien Timber
Timber has been sidelined since the 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on October 1. Arteta mentioned that Timber is close to returning, depending on how he progresses in training with the team.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu is dealing with a setback from a knee injury sustained during pre-season. After returning briefly as a substitute, he aggravated the injury.
As Arsenal prepares for the crucial match against Liverpool, Arteta faces a challenging injury situation but remains hopeful for a strong performance.