Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta delivered the latest injury updates on his squad ahead of this weekend’s clash with Aston Villa.
It’s first versus third in the Premier League on Saturday as the leaders head to Villa Park for a 12.30pm kickoff. The Villans can close the gap to the north London outfit to just three points with a victory.
This might be a good time for Villa to face them as Arsenal are missing key players, while a few more are doubts to be available for selection.
Gabriel Magalhães and Kai Havertz are both ruled out with thigh and knee injuries respectively. Declan Rice, William Saliba, Leandro Trossard and Cristhian Mosquera, meanwhile, are touch and go.
Latest Arsenal injury news on Rice, Saliba, Trossard and Mosquera
Rice had to come off in the final ten minutes of their recent win over Brentford, but Arteta kept his cards close to his chest when it came to the midfielder’s fitness.
“Let’s see, we have another training session this afternoon,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players so after that we will decide who travels.”
Arteta said that Saliba and Trossard could return in “a matter of days”, but added that Mosquera’s situation is “more complicated” as the defender will require more testing to determine his recovery timeline.
“That’s the one that is more complicated we have to do another test today to see where we are with him.”
Read – Arsenal boss Arteta comments on Aston Villa title chances
Asked if Arsenal’s injuries have changed the way he views the upcoming January transfer window, Arteta responded: “We always have to be prepared.
The moment that we have an option to improve the squad or to protect the squad, depending on what happens, I think we need to be open to it, what is going to happen from here until the window is closed because that is football.
“We don’t know, but certainly we are going to be alert and we know where the risk can come in terms of the squad and be ready just in case we have to do something.”
Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Foden, Ampadu, Romero
See Also – Premier League Awards: Romero’s rescue act, Fabulous Foden
