Arsenal return to Premier League action tomorrow against Bournemouth but Mikel Arteta’s could miss out on eight players in the clash due to injury.
Injuries to Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli remain under assessment as Arteta is sure to provide the latest on the pair.
Jurrien Timber (knee) and Thomas Partey (groin) will definitely be absent, although the latter could be back for next week’s crunch clash against Manchester City.
Declan Rice, Fabio Vieira and William Saliba have also been doubts having missed the trip to Brentford.
Arsenal were due to train for the final time early on Friday afternoon, with Arteta due to make a final decision on his squad after that and before the Gunners travel down to Bournemouth tonight.
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“He (Rice) wasn’t available [on Wednesday].”
“He had to leave the London derby [early] and he hasn’t trained yet.
“We have another session in an hour or two so we’ll have more news about him today.
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“Again, he (Martinelli) hasn’t trained. We want him back, we need him back, but at the moment he’s not been available. Same situation [for Saka and Trossard].
“They are all in the same pool. Willy (Saliba) as well had a knock.
Fabio wasn’t involved in the last game. We have a few. We have to see and adapt to the situation because that’s a big number.
“My hope is that everybody is fit and available, because we need them with the amount of games that we have already,
under the belt in the last two weeks and what is coming in the next seven to 10 days. We need them, so hopefully today we get some good news.”
Saka has featured in the past 86 league games, a club record for Arsenal in the Premier League, and Arteta will speak to him to see if he is fit enough.
“Bukayo [Saka] has now got enough experience to understand when he’s ready to help the team and when he’s not.”
“That’s what every manager wants to hear that the players want to play and that they are feeling good to play.”
Arsenal have two big games next week, away to Lens in the Champions League and a home match against Premier League leaders Manchester City, but Arteta won’t let that cloud his judgement for his team tomorrow.
“It’s about now,” said Arteta. “It’s about Bournemouth and this is the most important game that we have now in the season. That’s it.”
Aaron Ramsdale impressed in goal for the Gunners’ win over Brentford on Wednesday, but David Raya is expected to return.
The Spaniard has started the last two Premier League games and Arsenal’s opening Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven.
