Arsenal are set to face Manchester City in a crucial Premier League clash on Sunday, and they head into the game with no new injury concerns.
This follows their goalless draw against Atalanta in the Champions League opener on Thursday in Italy.
Despite the intense nature of the midweek fixture, the Gunners managed to avoid any fresh fitness setbacks.
During a press conference on Friday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked if there were any new injuries following the Atalanta match.
Arteta responded confidently, stating, “Not really. Straight after the match, we focused on recovery—sleep, eating well—and everyone is eager for Sunday’s game.”
This news will be a relief for the Arsenal boss, who is already navigating the absence of several key players ahead of the showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal are currently without Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, all sidelined due to injuries.
However, there is a boost for the team with the return of Declan Rice, who is back after serving a one-match suspension that saw him miss the North London derby against Tottenham.
Rice’s return is timely and will add strength to Arsenal’s midfield for the crucial matchup against City.
One of the most significant losses for Arsenal is their captain, Martin Odegaard, who will miss an extended period due to an ankle injury he picked up while on international duty with Norway.
Arteta confirmed that Odegaard’s injury is “significant,” and his absence leaves a gap in Arsenal’s midfield creativity and leadership on the pitch.
Kai Havertz was deployed in Odegaard’s place during the match against Atalanta, and he is expected to continue in that role against Manchester City.
Defensively, Arsenal have been solid in recent games, keeping a clean sheet in Italy and showing consistency.
It is likely that Arteta will stick with the same defensive lineup for the fifth match in a row.
However, the Arsenal manager has some difficult decisions to make regarding the attack and midfield setup.
Thomas Partey had a difficult outing in the Champions League match, conceding a penalty that was fortunately saved by goalkeeper David Raya.
Partey was substituted for Jorginho before the hour mark, which raises questions about whether he will start on Sunday.
Arteta may opt for Jorginho to play a more prominent role in midfield alongside Rice and Havertz.
Gabriel Jesus also had a quiet game against Atalanta and was replaced by Leandro Trossard before the 60th minute.
Given his underwhelming performance, there is a possibility that Arteta might choose to start Trossard up front, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli expected to retain their positions on the wings.
The predicted Arsenal lineup for the match against Manchester City is a 4-3-3 formation, featuring Raya in goal; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, and Jurrien Timber in defense; Havertz, Partey, and Rice in midfield; and Saka, Trossard, and Martinelli leading the attack.
Although there are no new injury concerns, Arsenal are still without Merino (shoulder), Odegaard (ankle), Tierney (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee), and Zinchenko (calf).
The match will be officiated by Michael Oliver and will take place at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal’s full squad available for the match includes goalkeepers Neto and Raya; defenders Calafiori, Gabriel, Heaven, Kiwior, Saliba, Timber, and White; midfielders Havertz, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Partey, and Rice; and forwards Jesus, Martinelli, Saka, Sterling, and Trossard.
The Gunners will be looking to put in a strong performance as they aim to compete with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
