Mikel Arteta has admitted he will need to “wait and see” if Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are fit to face Brentford on Thursday.
Both Odegaard (knock) and Saka (hip) have missed the last two games through injury, with Trossard also forced off in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Sunderland with what looked a muscular injury or cramp.
Max Dowman has also been out since early December after injuring ankle ligaments in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United, although his progress is looking positive after a frustrating spell on the sidelines.
“Max \[Dowman\] is still not available,” said Arteta on Wednesday. “The rest \[Saka, Odegaard and Trossard\] we will wait and see when we have the medical meeting.”
“Max is doing very well. I think he will be with us in a week or so and then he just needs to pick up the rhythm. Then he will be available for us.”
There was also an update on Mikel Merino who underwent surgery on a fractured foot earlier this week and will now miss the foreseeable future with a lengthy recovery likely.
“I think the doctors were really happy with the way it went. It’s obviously a long process. You’re talking about bone healing, so you need to be patient, you respect the timings.
“I’m sure Mikel is going to do everything that he possibly can to speed up that recovery. We’re probably talking about months, whether it’s three or four or five, we don’t know.”
Arsenal could see their six-point lead over Manchester City reduced to three points on Wednesday night, with Pep Guardiola’s side facing Fulham at home before the Gunners travel to Brentford on Thursday.
But the Spaniard insists twists and turns are normal in a title race, and all that’s important is staying focused on the job at hand.
“We remains focused because that’s going to happen from now until the end of the season. For us it’s something normal, natural and I’m looking forward to it.
“The boys were really happy when we beat Sunderland because we knew that this was going to be tough. Everybody was in their houses watching it. We have discussed the way we have to take this constantly and just put all the energy in what we do. That’s it.”
Brentford are in good form going into this clash (winning three of their last five) and have beaten all of Aston Villa, Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle at home this season, making the Gtech Stadium a difficult prospect for anybody – especially under the lights.
“We know that the run that they are in and how strong they’ve been at home as well. The last few results that they had, the work that the coaching staff are doing. Big credit to them because they are a top side.”
Arteta was also asked about Thomas Frank who was sacked by Tottenham on Wednesday after just eight months in charge, following their 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle. He joins six other top flight managers in losing their job this season.
“Well, always very sad news when you have a colleague that doesn’t continue doing his job,” he added. “Thomas is an excellent coach, he’s an extraordinary man as well and he’s proven that in the league. We know where we are. We know that our responsibility is beyond just performance.
“That sometimes result dictates what happens with us. We wish him all the very best for whatever he decides to do next.”
That decision also means the Gunners will be facing a new manager in the dugout for their next league game, when they travel to Tottenham for the North London derby on February 22nd.
Asked whether or not that will impact his preparations, Arteta acknowledged that line of thinking but insists focusing on yourself will always be the most important thing.
“Well I think it’s happened a lot of times already this season for us. At the end, you learn the lesson not only with the change of manager but with what you expect from a manager to do against you as well, because they change it a lot this season.
“So focus more on us and make sure that what we want to achieve, the way we want to play, the things that we want to happen in the game, that happen many times, in relation or not in relation to what they will do tactically.”
There’s always a home for you in N5, Thomas.