Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta delivers a triple injury update and discusses his side’s chances of signing a new striker ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Wolves.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has refused to rule either William Saliba or Myles Lewis-Skelly out of contention for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The pair were both absent from Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League success over Dinamo Zagreb, while Saliba was also unavailable for the 2-2 top-flight draw with Aston Villa last weekend.
The Frenchman was revealed to have been suffering from hamstring tightness after the North London derby, and it was initially reported that he could spend up to two weeks on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Lewis-Skelly missed the recent European battle after jarring his knee in the meeting with Villa, and the teenage defender was sent for scans earlier this week to determine the severity of his concern.
Speaking to reporters in Friday’s pre-game press conference, Arteta expressed hope that Saliba and Lewis-Skelly would either be available for the trip to Wolves or the Champions League clash with Girona next week.
Arteta provides latest on Ben White progress
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“With Myles [Lewis-Skelly], it’s nothing serious. Today, we will have a meeting with the medical staff. William [Saliba] is something similar. They will definitely be for next week, tomorrow we will see,” Arteta said.
However, the Gunners are still without Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Ben White (knee), the latter of whom is two months into his rehabilitation from surgery.
While the England international is still unavailable for selection, Arteta confirmed that he is on the verge of a first-team training comeback and could be the next cab off the rank in terms of Arsenal’s long-term absentees.
“He hasn’t trained with the team yet but I think he’s very close. He needs to tick a few boxes and if all goes well and smoothly. I think he will be with us very soon,” the Spaniard replied.
Arsenal did welcome Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri back from muscular issues against Dinamo Zagreb, but the absences of Saka and Jesus have left them short in attack, and they are yet to address such issues in the transfer market.
Arteta refuses to comment on Matheus Cunha rumours
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However, Arsenal are set to face one of their reported targets this weekend – Wolves hotshot Matheus Cunha – and speculation surrounding the Brazilian’s future heated up when he was criticised by head coach Vitor Pereira after Monday’s loss to Chelsea.
As ever, Arteta was loath to speak about particular players, but the Arsenal manager insisted that any player who joins the club this month must fit in with the Gunners’ project rather than simply making up the numbers.
“I prefer not to talk about individuals,” Arteta said when questioned directly on Cunha. “Have I ever said no to a striker? We lost two very important players in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus. We lack goals and options in the front, it’s clear.
“If we can get the right player, that’s what we’re actively looking at. Any player? No. Someone that makes us better and has an impact on the team. For the period that we have lost those players, we need some help because we are short. The team is still coping with that but we have to do what is right for the club.”
Arsenal are still Liverpool’s closest challengers in the Premier League table, but the Reds are six points clear at the summit with a game in hand, and Nottingham Forest are only behind the Gunners on goal difference.
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