Mikel Arteta Arsenal
The North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham is poised to be a thrilling encounter, yet both teams are contending with significant injury issues. This first meeting of the season reignites a storied rivalry, but with several key players facing fitness concerns, the options available to managers Mikel Arteta and Thomas Frank are notably constrained. Both managers have provided updates on their squads, revealing a mix of good and bad news ahead of the clash.
Mikel Arteta said: “Yeah, he missed it [the games for Italy], he wasn’t available, he’s been carrying a few things, and we have to bring him back, and he hasn’t trained yet, so tomorrow we have another training session and see how he is.” He added: “We put a lot of energy during the international break with all the medical staff as well to try to bring them as quick as possible. So tomorrow we have another training session, see how some of them are feeling, whether it’s a bit too close to bring them in this game or we feel that they can have a contribution in the game. So tomorrow we’ll have more clarity.”
Arteta’s comments highlighted concerns over Riccardo Calafiori, who returned from international duty with a hip issue, casting doubt over his availability. Additionally, the potential return of Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli was left uncertain, as Arteta remained cautious about their readiness.
Thomas Frank said: “He trained today as well, so that is good. Thank you! A long list so I need a little bit of help!” He continued: “They are good, most of them. Pape trained today. He’s ready, available. Lucas trained today. Ready, available. Kolo Muani, yes. Trained today. Available, of course has a mask [he] needs to play with.” He further remarked: “Trained fully today. Now he’s definitely getting very close to being able to be selected.”
Frank offered a more optimistic outlook for Tottenham, confirming that several players, including Mohammed Kudus, Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, and Randal Kolo Muani, have returned to training and are available for selection. Archie Gray, Kota Takai, and Ben Davies also participated in training, suggesting they could be fit for the derby. Radu Dragusin is nearing a return to full fitness, having played for the academy to regain match sharpness.
Despite these updates, some players remain sidelined, with Dominic Solanke still not ready for action. Frank emphasized the importance of ensuring players are fully fit before returning to competitive matches, aiming to avoid any setbacks.
As the North London Derby approaches, both Arsenal and Tottenham will be hoping for positive developments in their injury situations, allowing them to field their strongest possible line-ups in this eagerly anticipated clash.
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