Mikel Arteta has provided an update for the Arsenal squad ahead of the trip to Manchester United. After a great start to the season, the Gunners will be without some key players and potentially more worrying signs are coming.
Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny will not be available. However, Arsenal star creator Martin Odegaard too is a doubt along with Aaron Ramsdale and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Arteta said on Ramsdale and Odegaard: “We will see more tomorrow. Hopefully, they’ll be available to train with the team. Unfortunately, Alex still hasn’t been able to train with the team yet.”
READ MORE: Arsenal press conference LIVE: Mikel Arteta on Odegaard injury, Doulgas Luiz transfer and United
The Arsenal manager also confirmed that Zinchenko has still not trained ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. He said: “After missing two games and not being able to train with the team unfortunately that’s the situation that we have.”
This means that Kieran Tierney and Albert Sambi Lokonga are likely to keep their places in the squad. Should Odegaard not be available then Emile Smith-Rowe or Fabio Vieira could make their first starts although the latter is yet to even make his Arsenal debut at this stage.
Arteta provided a more detailed timeline for Partey and Elneny too. Confirming Elneny’s long-term absence but giving some hope about a swifter return for the Ghanaian.
“With Mo, we are talking months, with Thomas weeks and even shorter than that I hope,” Arteta said. Partey’s return to the team will be a big boost after missing out on Douglas Luiz on deadline day leaving the midfield short of options in the wake of a sudden injury crisis.
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