Arsenal FC v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg
Arteta’s side within touching distance of silverware (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has provided injury updates on Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final showdown with Manchester City.
The Gunners are still chasing an unprecedented quadruple and will fight for the first silverware of the season this Sunday at Wembley.
Arteta has been without his captain Odegaard for the last five games as a result of a knee injury suffered against Brentford. He made a brief return off the bench in the north London derby victory over Tottenham but has not featured since.
Timber meanwhile picked up an ankle issue in last Saturday’s win over Everton, missing the Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen midweek.
Eze scored a sensational goal that evening at the Emirates, but was forced off late on with an ankle issue of his own.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta allayed any fears of Eze, and was hopeful that Odegaard and Timber will be fit enough to feature at Wembley.
‘We have another training session tomorrow, so the ones that are in contention hopefully can give us good news,’ the Arsenal boss said.
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Arsenal v Everton - Premier League
Jurrien Timber was forced off midway through the first half against Everton (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal FC Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg
Mikel Arteta refused to confirm who out of David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga will start in goal on Sunday (Picture: Getty)
Pressed on Odegaard and Timber specifically, he replied: ‘We have another session tomorrow, so let’s see if they can make it.’
Arsenal are hoping to claim their first major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, and Arteta was keen to keep his cards close to his chest when it came to team selection for Sunday’s match.
‘Everybody has been involved in the competition and in the last day when you have the opportunity to be in Wembley, to give someone no opportunity to be there is difficult, so something to think about,’ he said.
A particularly interesting decision for Arteta will be his choice of goalkeeper, given Kepa Arrizabalaga has started each game of the tournament up to this point.
Arteta’s opposite number, Pep Guardiola, confirmed that James Trafford, Manchester City’s backup keeper, will retain his spot in the starting lineup on Sunday.
But the Gunners boss was refusing to give anything away about his choice of keeper, insisting: ‘We will see tomorrow how everybody is then make a decision.’
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