Four Arsenal stars could return for PL clash vs Wolves after Mikel Arteta update
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a positive fitness update on four players ahead of the Premier League clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening.
The Gunners are currently top of the league standings with a two-point lead over Manchester City. They host Wolves, who are at the bottom with just two points from 15 games.
The club are overwhelming favourites to beat the West Midlands outfit, and ahead of the encounter, Arteta has updated on the fitness of four first-team stars.
The Spanish tactician said that Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber need to be assessed after they missed the midweek Champions League trip to Belgium due to illness and a knock, respectively.
He said: “[on Rice] Let’s see how he is today. He was ill, that’s an illness, normally in a few days it gets resolved, but we have to wait and see.
“[on Timber] Again, depends how he feels today. It was a knock that he picked, and he wasn’t feeling comfortable. So again, I think it’s a matter of days, but whether it’s tomorrow or not we’ll see.”
The manager also refused to rule out William Saliba and Leandro Trossard for the game.
Saliba is poised to be fit to face Everton next weekend, but there is an outside chance he could return tomorrow. Arteta said: “We have to wait and see.
“Yesterday we didn’t train, so we have an extra day between this afternoon, let’s see if he can be available or not.
“It remains the same. If you asked me for the Everton game, I think he will be fit; for tomorrow, I don’t know.
He added on Trossard: “Again, another one that is a matter of days. It sounds boring, but it’s the reality, so we don’t know.”
Gabriel Magalhaes (thigh), Cristhian Mosquera (ankle), Kai Havertz (knee), Max Dowman (ankle) and Riccardo Calafiori (suspension) are the only players guaranteed to miss out tomorrow.
A late decision could be made on the rest. In our view, Rice and Timber have exceptional fitness levels and could be deemed fit to start against Rob Edwards’ side.
Arsenal could, however, be more cautious with William Saliba, who has been recovering from a nagging ankle issue. He may ideally return to the XI against Everton.
Similarly, there appears no need to risk Trossard with the fine form of Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke, who shared three goals between them against Club Brugge.
Madueke has a superb record against Wolves with four goals in three meetings, and he could be a frontrunner to start on the left wing for the Gunners tomorrow.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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