After spending heavily in the summer transfer window, Arsenal are undoubtedly considered by many to fight with Manchester City for the league crown.
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Arsenal will be hoping to return to winning ways in the Premier League after dropping points in their last league game. The Gunners have been labelled by many as one of the favourites for the EPL crown this season. While they have stayed unbeaten in the competition so far, Arsenal have not been able to reach the heights of last campaign when they nearly won the league title. After spending heavily in the summer transfer window, Arsenal are undoubtedly considered by many to fight with Manchester City for the league crown.
However, it will not be an easy task, taking into account their recent injury situation. Ahead of their trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta gave injury updates about Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. “Declan wasn’t available and had to leave the London derby. He hasn’t trained yet. We have another session in an hour or two so we’ll have more news about him today. Gabriel hasn’t trained and we want him back, we need him back, but at the moment he’s not been available. Leandro – same situation. Bukayo – same situation,” he was quoted as saying by Arsenal.com ahead of the contest.
Asked when the judgment will be made on Saka, the Arsenal manager replied, “The assessment is ‘okay, is he fit enough and good enough to be able to be selected tomorrow?’ That’s the question mark and so far he hasn’t trained with the team.” Giving an update about others, he replied, “They’re all in the same pool. William as well had a knock, Fabio as well wasn’t involved in the last game, so we have to assess them today, see how they are and adapt to the situation because that’s a big number.”
Arteta then spoke about a reunion with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. “We know each other really well. We played together, we had fantastic times together, we played in Antiguoko, it’s a team in San Sebastián that has produced a lot of players over the years. They do fantastic work and we are privileged to be raised there, to be educated there, and that’s the beauty of football – that 30, 40 years later, we are together in the Premier League both as managers, and I’m really happy for him,” he explained.
Kai Havertz is another big-name arrival in the summer transfer window, however, he has not been able to reach his previous heights at Emirates Stadium yet. Asked how to get the best out of him, Arteta replied, “Try to help him as much as possible. Be next to him, give him the tools, give him the confidence and give him the minutes to exploit his talent. There are so many parts of his game that he’s doing exceptionally well and we know the one that needs to keep improving. But as always, with any player, it’s about giving support – especially when you see a player that does what he does every single day and the way he tries, the way he applies himself. You give them support and more tools and if they don’t perform, it’s because of us.”
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