Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal - Premier League
Saka and Timber missed the games against Southampton and Sporting (Picture: Getty)
Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber could be available for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth this weekend.
The Gunners have been dealing with a number of injury concerns that emerged leading up to and during the international break.
William Saliba, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard returned to action in the FA Cup defeat to Southampton last weekend and the Champions League win over Sporting CP on Tuesday.
Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off at St Mary’s but was fit enough to return to the starting XI midweek.
With focus now shifting back to Premier League matters, Arteta is still battling other issues.
Saka and Timber missed both games against Southampton and Sporting with the latter also missing the Carabao Cup final before the international break.
The pair were not spotted in an open training session on Thursday, with Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori also absent.
Arsenal v Manchester City - Carabao Cup Final
Saka missed training on Thursday (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta gave little away during Friday’s pre-match press conference but did confirm there have been changes since Thursday’s session – without confirming who was back among their teammates on Friday.
Hincapie has been ruled out however as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Asked Saka, Timber and Calafiori not training on Thursday, Arteta told reporters: ‘Yes, there have been changes since yesterday.’
Pressed on if they would now be available for Saturday’s game, he added: ‘I don’t know, some of them.’
Eberechi Eze injury latest
Eze meanwhile has not featured since his starring role in Arsenal’s victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie last month.
The former Crystal Palace star was another to miss the Carabao Cup final, also sitting out of England’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan and Arsenal’s games against Southampton and Sporting.
Arsenal FC v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg
Eze also missed the Carabao Cup final (Picture: Getty)
He was however spotted back in training on Thursday, despite suggestions he could be out of action for up to six weeks.
Arteta confirmed on Friday the midfielder is ‘available’ for the visit of the Cherries.
‘We knew that was impossible but the recovery, the will he’s shown from day one to get back as quick as possible, how he’s pushed the medical staff and himself to be there tomorrow. It’s great to watch.’
Is Martin Odegaard injured again?
Martin Odegaard has endured an injury-stricken start to the year, missing 11 games with muscle and knee problems.
Having sat out of the international break to finish his recovery, the Norway international started both games against Southampton and Sporting but was forced off with 20 minutes left in the latter.
Sporting Clube de Portugal v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg
Odegaard limped off midweek (Picture: Getty)
With the midfielder another who was absent from training this week, Norway boss Stale Solbakken revealed his captain had suffered a ‘minor setback.’
Odegaard was also among the players Arteta remained coy on, not confirming whether he was one of those back in training on Friday.
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