Mikel Arteta Arsenal
Arsenal is grappling with a series of injury setbacks as they prepare to face Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final this weekend. Several key players returned from international duty with injuries, posing a challenge for manager Mikel Arteta as he plans his squad for the crucial match.
Mikel Arteta said: “No, it’s not. It looked really bad, and Noni was really worried, especially after what happened to him in his other knee a few weeks ago, and he was out for six weeks. However, the Gunners boss admitted he is unable to put a time frame on the ex-Crystal Palace man. Arteta said: “Ebz is out; with Ebz I cannot put a finger on it because I don’t know because he’s a special character.”
Arteta, when asked about both players, said: “Those are in contention to possibly be in the squad.”
Mikel Arteta glumly replied: “Yes it was” before answering “no” when asked if they can put a time frame on his absence.
The French Football Federation said: “William Saliba is unable to join the French national team’s training camp, which begins this Monday, March 23. The Arsenal centre-back is suffering from recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of ten days.”
Mikel Arteta said: “You will see, I will continue the speculation so you can do it and you can judge it afterwards if what I say was right or you have to maybe change and delete and write something else.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel said: “If it was the last game of the season, we would have kept them, but in this moment, it did not make sense.”
The injuries have left Arteta with a challenging task of managing his squad efficiently. Noni Madueke’s injury, initially feared to be severe, has been downplayed by Arteta, although no specific timeline for his return has been provided. Eberechi Eze, another key player, remains out with no clear return date due to his unique recovery needs.
Martin Odegaard, who has missed several matches due to a knee injury, is being considered for a return, though Arteta might opt for caution. Jurrien Timber, sidelined since the victory over Everton, is also in contention for the squad against Southampton. However, Piero Hincapie’s hamstring injury remains a concern, with further tests needed to determine his availability.
William Saliba, who withdrew from France’s friendlies due to an ankle issue, is expected to be fit for the Southampton clash. Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice’s injuries are less clear, with Arteta remaining vague about their conditions. Bukayo Saka, despite missing England’s matches, is likely to return for the FA Cup tie.
Mikel Merino, undergoing recovery from ankle surgery, is not expected to feature for Arsenal this season but aims to be fit for the World Cup. As Arsenal navigates these injury challenges, Arteta’s squad management will be crucial in their pursuit of FA Cup glory.
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