Arsenal is concerned about the fitness of several players, including David Raya, following a tough draw against Manchester City last weekend that impacted many members of the squad.
Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori both appeared to suffer injuries during the match, but Calafiori managed to play nearly 70 minutes in the team’s recent 5-1 win over Bolton. Ben White was already struggling with an injury before the Manchester City game; he started on the bench but had to come in to help with the defensive strategy.
With Arsenal set to face Leicester City tomorrow, coach Mikel Arteta provided updates on player injuries during his pre-match press conference.
Injury Updates from Mikel Arteta
On Mikel Merino:
“Tomorrow is too soon for him; we’ll see how he is next week. He participated in partial training today and has been working very hard. He’s looking good, but we need to ensure his bone heals properly before allowing contact.”
“We’re trying to keep him from pushing too hard because he really wants to get back. He’s ready to go, and he looked impressive in training. We feel comfortable starting to expose him to contact.”
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Fans are excited about Merino’s potential debut, especially since Arsenal needs more options in midfield. Currently, Arsenal’s senior central midfielders include Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz. Ethan Nwaneri performed well against Bolton, but it remains to be seen if he will be included in the lineup for the upcoming matches.
On David Raya:
“We need to wait 24 hours to see how he’s doing. It’s not about taking risks; it’s about whether he’s fit and ready to play. Once we have more clarity regarding his fitness for the Leicester game, we will make a decision tomorrow.”
Arteta’s comments leave some uncertainty, but it seems likely that Raya may be fit to start against Leicester. However, Arsenal also has Neto Murara, an experienced goalkeeper, who can step in if necessary. Additionally, with a crucial Champions League match against Paris St. Germain coming up next week, the team must consider the risk of starting Raya to avoid worsening his muscle injury.
On Ben White and Jurrien Timber:
“Jurrien was able to train today, which is great news. He will be available for the squad, and we’re hopeful Ben will be too.”
After his strong performance against Manchester City, Calafiori may also push for a spot in the lineup, creating a selection challenge for Arteta.
