Mikel Arteta Offers Update on Injured Arsenal Trio Ahead of Champions League Clash

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has provided a crucial update on the fitness of three key players ahead of the team’s upcoming Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. The trio, which includes Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Jurrien Timber, were all absent from the Gunners’ starting lineup during their 2-0 loss to Bournemouth last weekend.

In his press conference, Arteta revealed that Saka had been dealt a slight hamstring injury while representing England in an international fixture. To avoid aggravating the issue, Arteta opted not to include the midfielder in the squad that faced Bournemouth, choosing instead to prioritize his recovery.

Meanwhile, Odegaard has been side-lined since suffering an ankle injury while playing for Norway last month. As a result, the midfielder has not featured in Arsenal’s recent fixtures, but Arteta is hopeful that he will return to action soon. On the topic of Odegaard’s recovery, Arteta noted: “They are closer. They are both progressing really well.” However, he also emphasized that Odegaard is still not match-fit, saying, “Martin is still not fit. Let’s see how Bukayo is after the training session later on.”

Jurrien Timber, the third player in question, had been absent from the team’s previous two games after sustaining a muscular injury. According to Arteta, Timber is nearing his return to full fitness and is “going to be close.” Arteta will closely monitor the defender’s progress during training with the entire team, acknowledging that his recovery is partly dependent on “how he deals with training with the whole group.”

While these updates hint at potential good news for the Gunners, it remains uncertain whether Saka, Odegaard, or Timber will be fit enough to face Shakhtar Donetsk in their upcoming Champions League fixture.