Arteta Faces Fitness Concerns Ahead of Arsenal’s Clash with Man City
Mikel Arteta has given an important update on the condition of several key Arsenal players ahead of this weekend’s massive Premier League showdown with Manchester City. Fans have been waiting to hear whether Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Ben White will be ready to take part, but as things stand, their involvement is still uncertain.
Saka has been sidelined since limping off against Leeds nearly a month ago with a hamstring injury. Despite working tirelessly behind the scenes, he has yet to join full training, which casts doubt on whether he can return in time for Sunday’s game. Ødegaard, the captain and a crucial creative spark for Arsenal, has been managing a shoulder problem. He aggravated it during the Nottingham Forest match and had to sit out the midweek Champions League win over Athletic Club. Ben White, meanwhile, has also been battling with a knee issue, missing matches in recent weeks and struggling for consistency with his recovery.
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Arteta explained in his press conference that no final decisions will be made until the team’s last training session on Saturday. He admitted that “everything has been modified” for those three players and that more clarity will only come once they are put through late fitness checks. In simple terms, their participation against City will go right down to the wire.
There was, however, some positive news. Both Viktor Gyökeres and Mikel Merino, who suffered head knocks in the Champions League victory over Athletic Club, have been cleared to play. Arteta confirmed they are “fine” and available for selection, which at least strengthens the squad heading into what promises to be a difficult encounter.
Another major talking point has been William Saliba’s fitness. The French defender has been nursing an ankle problem but returned to the bench in Bilbao earlier this week. His deputy, Cristhian Mosquera, has impressed when given the chance, and that has handed Arteta something of a selection dilemma. When asked about Saliba, the manager said the decision on whether he starts will be made after the final training session, acknowledging that the player has “really pushed it” to make himself available.
It’s clear that Arsenal’s preparations for facing Manchester City are being overshadowed by these injury concerns. The potential absence of Saka, Ødegaard, and White would be a huge blow, given their importance at both ends of the pitch. Yet Arteta seemed measured and calm, noting that he will only risk players if they are fully ready.
With the Emirates set to host what could be a decisive early-season clash, all eyes are on Arsenal’s final training updates. Fans will be hoping at least one or two of the sidelined stars can be declared fit, because against a team like Manchester City, every ounce of quality and depth matters. The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown, but whether Arsenal have their full strength available remains the big unanswered question.
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