Arsenal host Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening, while Manchester City are not in Premier League action until Monday
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta has issued an update on his injured Arsenal players amid the title race battle with Man City(Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
View Image
Mikel Arteta has provided an Arsenal injury update ahead of his side's crucial meeting with Fulham in the Premier League title race with Manchester City. The Gunners can pull six points clear of City with a victory, as Pep Guardiola's title-chasing rivals are not in action until Monday evening when they make the trip to European hopefuls Everton.
The concerning news is that Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber will not be fit to face the Cottagers. Arteta confirmed of the pair: "Kai and Jurrien will be out" while also stating that he did not believe the club had suffered any new fitness setbacks following their midweek Champions League semi-final stalemate at Atletico Madrid.
He added: "I think so, let's see how everyone is tomorrow morning. We haven't been able to train much."
There are also doubts surrounding the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard, who was substituted off during the second half at the Metropolitano. When pressed on whether he would be available this weekend, Arteta responded: "Let's see."
The Norwegian has been troubled by a knee problem sustained during the 1-1 draw at Brentford in February over recent months.
He has endured a number of spells on the treatment table but has returned to the starting line-up over the past few weeks as he looks to help the Gunners clinch both the Premier League title and Champions League.
Arteta's remarks appear to indicate that his availability against Marco Silva's side at the Emirates Stadium is far from guaranteed.
Bukayo Saka made his second successive cameo from the bench in Spain, while Riccardo Calafiori also returned to the matchday squad after his recent knock.
Timber is thought to be edging closer to a return from his groin problem, though he has now been sidelined for more than seven weeks.
Havertz's groin issue is not believed to be as serious as first feared, and he could still feature before the end of Arsenal’s season.