Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the fitness of Bukayo Saka and seven other Arsenal players ahead of his side’s clash with Bournemouth.
Saka came off during the second half of England’s 2-1 defeat to Greece last week with a muscular problem. The 23-year-old then missed the Three Lions’ subsequent fixture with Finland after coming back to north London for further tests on the issue and is a doubt going into Saturday’s clash at the Vitality Stadium.
"It’s not a serious injury," . "He’s evolving really well. He’s done a few things in the last few days when he came back from the national team after the second game. We are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon and he did some bits yesterday, so let’s see if he can make it on time."
Fellow forward Gabriel Martinelli is also a doubt after missing Brazil’s second match against Peru with a calf problem. Arteta has suggested that he faces a late fitness test.
“Gabi landed yesterday afternoon,” he said. “So we’ve had a very short time to be with him. Yesterday he went outside to do a little bit and see how he’s feeling. Today will be another step to understand whether we want to take the risk if he’s fit. I know what the player is going to say ‘I’m going to be fit’.”
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“Yeah, 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 and the manager. They understood the situation. We have modified everything that we could do here and if he trains well today he has a good chance to be fit and available”
Kai Havertz is also a doubt for the game after missing out on the international break with a knee problem. Arteta though seemed more positive about his chances of making the trip to the south coast.
"Yeah, he had a few issues and we’ve been dealing with that," he said. "He’s been absolutely brilliant. He has very good communication with the national team and the manager. They understood the situation. We have modified everything that we could do here and if he trains well today he has a good chance to be fit and available."
Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko are all also racing to be fit for the game.“The three of them are quite close," Arteta said. "Today we will have to push and see who is because we are stronger with the numbers, especially on our right side. Hopefully we have some positive news today and we’ll have some players back tomorrow."
There was better news on Thomas Partey who Arteta confirmed will be fit for the game. Martin Odegaard will not be, but Arteta suggested that he is entering the final stages of his rehab from an ankle problem despite reports that he may have suffered a setback.
“He’s not gonna be fit for this game,” Arteta said. “Next week will be a different story. He needs to clear some markers doing things with the ball in that latter stage of rehab. Next week will be crucial.”
Arteta did go as far as to confirm that he is hopeful Odegaard could be back before the next international break in November.
There was less positive news on Takehiro Tomiyasu though. The Japan defender picked up a fresh set back after making his long-awaited return from a lengthy injury absence against Southampton. Arteta is unsure how long it will keep him out for however.
“Yeah we don’t know (the absence yet),” he said. “It doesn’t look like hopefully a long period. But we’ll have to see when he comes back how he reacts to the load and the impact on the pitch. We really need him. The work that he put in to be back was amazing. Now he’s got another thing.”
