As Arsenal gear up for their final match of the 2022/23 season, Mikel Arteta has revealed some concerns regarding key players’ availability.
In last weekend’s outing against Nottingham Forest, Reiss Nelson was absent due to illness.
His participation against Wolverhampton Wanderers this Sunday remains a question mark but it does, however, look like he will be signing a new contract to stay at Arsenal long-term.
Adding to this, Bukayo Saka and Leonardo Trossard are also grappling with fitness issues, their presence at the Emirates Stadium is far from certain.
In his last pre-match press conference of the season, Arteta said, “We’ve had some issues this week – well, in the last few weeks – as you’ve noticed, some players were unable to play and to participate in the games, with Reiss.
“We have a little issue with Bukayo, which has been going on, and with Leo.”
The Gunners have faced their fair share of injury troubles this season, with William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu side-lined due to back and knee problems respectively since March.
The boss remains optimistic about their return for pre-season training in July.
Arteta remarked, “I think he’s evolving in the right way,” about Saliba. He continues to be cautious about the Frenchman’s progress, aiming for him to be fully ready to “go again” next season.
The same optimism carries over for Tomiyasu, who has had a challenging year.
Looking ahead, Arteta knows he faces a delicate balancing act, with a busy summer of international tournaments and qualifiers. He also recognises the psychological toll on the injured players and plans to manage their well-being effectively.
“We have to understand how they’re feeling, what they need and what is best for them, and whether it is best for them and the club as well,” Arteta concluded, underlining the need for open communication and a proactive approach for the squad’s best performance next season.
Arsenal will also be without Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mohamed Elneny for the game
Wolves injury update
As Wolves get ready for their forthcoming match against Arsenal, two significant absences mark their squad list.
Midfielder Chiquinho continues his recovery from a long-standing knee injury. The midfielder is back training with the main group, fuelling optimism for his return in time for the pre-season.
Meanwhile, striker Sasa Kalajdzic is also ruled out as he recovers from an ACL injury sustained during his Premier League debut.
His progress trails behind Chiquinho’s, but it’s anticipated that he’ll be match-ready around the same period.
