Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided updates on both Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale ahead of Monday night's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
Ramsdale missed the 1-0 victory against Aston Villa earlier this month after picking up a hip injury whilst Saka tested positive for Covid-19 over the international break, missing England's matches against Switzerland and Ivory Coast. Now, Arteta has spoken about the availability of the two stars ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Spaniard said: "Bukayo is feeling good. He’s training today hopefully and Aaron it’s a doubt.
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"He hasn’t trained yet so we don’t know what he’ll be able to do on Monday." He added: "He wanted to play against Villa but it was a significant injury and he had to take his time and the physios are doing everything they can.
"We will see more in the next few days when he starts to do real training." Bernd Leno deputised for Ramsdale in between the posts for the aforementioned trip to Villa Park, delivering a solid display that included an injury-time save to deny Brazilian playmaker Phillipe Coutinho.
By the sounds of Arteta's comments, the German international will be called upon again to face Patrick Vieira's side. The former Bayern Leverkusen shot-stopper played the first three league fixtures of the season, all of which Arsenal lost, before Ramsdale eventually usurped him in the starting line-up.
Meanwhile, Saka has enjoyed yet another impressive campaign for the north Londoners. The Hale End academy graduate has netted eight times in the league, a hugely impressive feat when you consider he is still just 20.
He will be hoping to continue his fine form on Monday night, with the Gunners currently three points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur - who have played one more match than Arteta's men - going into the latest round of fixtures.
Arteta also spoke about Japanese international Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has suffered from calf problems in recent times. "I think he will be close", he said when ased if Tomiyasu will be fit to plat Palace.
"He’s been training more and more. He has the boys back now so he will be joining some sessions this week so let’s see how he is."
When asked why the injury has taken so long to recover from, Arteta added: "Because he had a recurring injury but in the other calf which was strange and difficult to predict. He’s been through a lot in the last two years with the amount of games he’s played and all the COVID, the transition to a different league where the intensity is completely different.
"Hopefully we can find the rights reasons so we don’t go through that situation again because especially for him it’s been tough."
