Arsenal head into their Premier League clash with Leeds United missing as many as nine first-team players after a turbulent week of injuries and transfers – www.naijnaira.com reports.
The big story is the arrival of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, a signing Arsenal fans have been waiting for, but his debut has been delayed due to late registration, football.london confirmed.
Manager Mikel Arteta kept tight-lipped when asked about the player during his press conference, smiling as he said, “Nothing to comment, you know I can never talk about a player that’s not part of our group yet.”
Despite the transfer buzz, injuries continue to cloud Arsenal’s preparations. Kai Havertz picked up a knee problem in the win against Manchester United and will not feature against Leeds.
Arteta admitted there is no clear recovery date, adding, “He’s certainly not fit, and we don’t really know the extent of it. We need more tests.”
The German midfielder is mentally strong according to Arteta, but this setback adds to Arsenal’s growing list of unavailable players.
Ben White’s situation is also uncertain after he limped off at Old Trafford, leaving Arteta to say, “Let’s see how he reacts,” while Christian Norgaard is confirmed out for at least a week.
There is at least some positive news with Gabriel Jesus pushing closer to a return from long-term injury, with Arteta revealing, “Gabriel is doing super well and looks in a really good place.”
Defender Jurrien Timber is also being carefully managed with reduced training sessions after his long absence last season.
New signing Riccardo Calafiori, who scored the winner against Manchester United, is expected to continue at left-back after an impressive debut.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are also likely to form the core of Arsenal’s backline once again, bringing much-needed stability in defence.
Arsenal will be forced into reshuffling further forward, with Martin Ødegaard central to their creativity and Noni Madueke in line for more minutes on the wing.
Meanwhile, several squad members remain out of the picture completely, including Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Jakub Kiwior.
Zinchenko has slipped down the pecking order at left-back, while Kiwior’s future remains unresolved as the club awaits suitable offers.
Lokonga is pushing for an exit after fitness struggles on loan at Sevilla, while Vieira has failed to convince Arteta despite flashes of quality during his spells away from the Emirates.
The lack of depth is a concern, but Arteta has hinted that squad rotation may resemble the “Pep roulette” Manchester City fans are used to, with options shuffled game by game.
Fans will also be eager to see where Eberechi Eze fits into the team once registered, with many expecting him to compete with Ødegaard in the middle or slot in on the left.
Saturday’s game at the Emirates will be Arsenal’s first of the new season in front of their home supporters, and the atmosphere is expected to be electric despite the absences.
Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford on the opening day has set a strong foundation, but with rivals Liverpool and Manchester City scoring freely, dropping points early would be damaging.
For now, all eyes are on how Arteta manages his patched-up squad against a Leeds side eager to cause an upset on their return to the Premier League.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
