The final international break of the season is over and Arsenal welcomed their players back from their respective nations. Mikel Arteta had been working with a small group of stars who had not been selected by their relevant countries.
Raheem Sterling, Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli, Jorginho, Neto and of course Bukayo Saka were all back at the club. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu meanwhile are all still recovering from long term injuries.
Arsenal released some behind-the-scenes images of the club’s first couple training sessions since the return of the team.football.london has gone through them with a fine tooth comb to assess any news we can get from the pictures.
Jurrien Timber is back
While Jurrien Timber was selected to play for the Netherlands he did not play any part in their Nations League matches with Spain. He was not part of either matchday squad because he was suffering with illness.
Thankfully though for the Gunners, Timber was pictured in high spirits clearly having shaken off the illness and ready again to take on the right-back role which will now have White ready to fight for a more regular place in the team. Fulham are the opponents on Tuesday, we will see who gets the nod from Arteta.
Bukayo Saka teasing
Arsenal and Bukayo Saka posted images of the winger on the grass and with the caption, “Hello again" in midweek. Despite this, he was nowhere to be seen in the images of the team training.
We know that Arsenal are more than aware of fans and the media combing through the pictures for any gems and hints to what it might mean for the upcoming games but although Saka was shown individually, his absence here could point to his return not being against Fulham… but you never know!
Mikel Merino the choice
In one of the images Mikel Merino is shown in an in-depth conversation with Arteta. The Spaniard has been the centre-forward of choice in the wake of the striker crisis experienced at the club since both Jesus and Havertz’s injuries.
There is also a picture of Merino battling with Leandro Trossard. When Saka does return, many feel this pair are the two natural options Arteta will have to toil with selecting in the central role, but the manager’s faith in Merino does not appear to show any sign of wavering.