Arteta Provides Fitness Update on Saliba and Timber
Mikel Arteta has provided an update regarding the fitness of key players in the squad ahead of an upcoming Champions League match against Kairat Almaty.
Fitness Update on Saliba and Timber
Arteta confirmed that both William Saliba and Jurrien Timber will not participate in the match. They missed training on Tuesday at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
The coach mentioned, “It’s a good opportunity now that we make a different kind of work with them to get them in the best possible condition for the weekend hopefully.”
Suspensions Impacting the Squad
In addition to Saliba and Timber, Mikel Merino and Declan Rice will also be absent due to suspensions, having accumulated three yellow cards in the initial seven league matches.
Squad Management Challenges
With four regular first-team players sidelined, Arteta emphasized the importance of squad depth. He stated, “It’s been like this for the first seven months of the competition.”
- Current suspensions: Mikel Merino, Declan Rice
- Injured players: William Saliba, Jurrien Timber
Arteta expressed confidence in utilizing his squad effectively. “The good news is that we have some players back as well now that are going to be helping us,” he said. He highlighted that the size of the squad this season is the largest since he took charge in 2019.
Looking Forward
He concluded that he enjoys managing a larger group of quality players, stating, “It’s about the quality of the numbers.” Arteta remains focused on the upcoming match and is committed to ensuring his team performs at its best despite the challenges.
