Hello everyone. With the international break now behind us once again, all eyes are on Saturday and Arsenal’s upcoming trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
It’s the beginning of a crucial week for Mikel Arteta’s team, with a home match against Shakhtar Donetsk scheduled for Tuesday night, followed by a visit from Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium the following weekend.
The international break was challenging for Arsenal, as Bukayo Saka had to cut short his time with the England squad due to a suspected hamstring injury, and Gabriel Martinelli suffered a calf problem while on duty with Brazil.
The squad is now reunited at London Colney, with Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes returning today after flying back from South America via private jet on Wednesday.
There is uncertainty about Martinelli’s availability for the Bournemouth game on Saturday, with a decision expected after Friday afternoon’s training session.
However, there doesn’t seem to be major concern at Arsenal regarding Martinelli’s calf issue. Discussions with the Brazilian medical staff earlier in the week reassured the club, allowing the winger to remain with the national team and return home as planned.
On a positive note, there is optimism that both Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz will be fit for Saturday’s match. Although they withdrew from their national teams as a precaution during the international break, they are expected to be ready for the trip to the south coast.
Arteta is set to address the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning. Updates on Martinelli, Saka, Havertz, and Partey are anticipated, along with news on the progress of Jurrien Timber, Ben White, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who were sidelined with injuries before the international break.
Arteta is likely to keep his cards close to his chest, especially regarding Martinelli and Saka. The Arsenal manager is known for keeping opponents guessing until the last moment regarding the involvement of key players.
It will be interesting to see how the team shapes up for the Bournemouth clash, with the return of some key players providing a boost to the squad. Arsenal fans will be eagerly awaiting the weekend’s match, hoping for a positive result to kickstart a busy period of fixtures ahead.