Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, has provided a fitness update on his squad ahead of their Premier Leaguematch against Burnley this Saturday. The Gunners will travel to Turf Moor with the aim of solidifying their position at the top of the league. However, Arteta faces a selection headache as several key players are currently dealing with injuries.
The most immediate concern for Arsenal is the fitness of Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba, who both sustained injuries during last Sunday's 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace. "Martinelli is still out, Saliba we have to wait and see," Arteta stated during his press conference on Friday. He added, "We have another training session this afternoon and the rest are still getting closer, I think in the right direction, but not available yet".
Martinelli suffered a thigh injury in the match against Crystal Palace and was seen limping after the game. Saliba, on the other hand, was taken off at halftime with an ankle problem. Arteta confirmed that Martinelli would definitely miss the Burnley clash, while Saliba's participation remains uncertain pending a late fitness test. When asked about a potential timeline for Martinelli's return, Arteta said, "We don't know yet, but I think this game is going to come too early for him".
In addition to Martinelli and Saliba, Arsenal continues to be without several long-term absentees. Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Martin Odegaard are all recovering from knee injuries. Gabriel Jesus is also still sidelined as he recovers from an ACL injury he sustained in January. However, Arteta offered an optimistic outlook on the return of these players, stating, "I would say weeks and some of them pretty soon hopefully if they keep evolving the way they are doing". He also mentioned the upcoming international break, after which he anticipates having some of these players back in action. The club hopes that Odegaard, Havertz, and Madueke will be available for the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur on November 23. Jesus, who has been out since January, is expected to return to full training in December.
Despite the growing injury list, Arteta expressed confidence in his squad's depth and their ability to maintain momentum. Arsenal is currently on an eight-game winning streak in all competitions. Arteta emphasized the need to "maintain the level of urgency, the concentration, the focus, the ambition that we are showing every game". He acknowledged the challenges posed by Burnley, describing them as "extremely well-coached" and a "very, very tough team to beat".
Arteta also commented on the increasing competitiveness of the Premier League, citing better structure, organization, decision-making, and players as factors. He stressed the importance of player welfare and supporters when making decisions about fixtures.
Arsenal will look to overcome their injury concerns and continue their winning form as they face Burnley at Turf Moor.
