ARTETA CELEBRATES DOUBLE FITNESS BOOST, FACES SHOCK EXIT PLAN REVELATION
Arsenal could go four points clear at the top with a win at Fulham. Key players like Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel return, but Martin Odegaard remains out. Get the latest team news and injury updates.
On Saturday, Arsenal will make their Premier League comeback when they travel to Fulham. With a win at Craven Cottage, the Gunners, who are presently atop the standings, may increase their lead to four points.
Before the international break, Mikel Arteta's team defeated West Ham 2-0 to solidify their top spot. As the north London team prepares for another important match this weekend, all eyes are on Marco Silva's squad.
Even though club captain Martin Odegaard is still out for an extended amount of time due to a knee injury, fans will be thrilled to see some familiar faces return to the pitch.
Welcome back to the training area.
According to The Mirror, Arsenal would be happy to welcome back several players during the international break, including newcomer Piero Hincapie.
Arteta said that he had surgery on his groin during the summer after the defender sustained an injury during the Champions League match against Athletic Club. On Wednesday, though, he was spotted on the training pitch with star winger Gabriel Martinelli and defender Gabriel.
Both of Arsenal's players returned in plenty of time to play Fulham on Saturday after serving with Brazil on international duty in Asia.
Ben White, meanwhile, did not show up for Wednesday's practice, while midfielder Martin Zubimendi and sporting director Andrea Berta watched from the sidelines.
Arrival in the summer plans a possible exit.
Despite only joining from Valencia during the summer transfer window, Cristhian Mosquera has left the door open for a potential departure from Arsenal. After a £13 million transfer, the promising defender signed a five-year deal with the Gunners, with a potential 12-month extension.
However, the centre-back told Marca that he was reminded of the unpredictability of football by reuniting with his old teammates at the La Liga team during the international break.
Mosquera said, "I am thrilled to be back in my hometown and greet my old comrades. Nothing compares to Valencia. I have fallen in love with and been a part of this club, which has given me everything since day one.
"Who knows? Life is full of unexpected turns. You go from one place to another playing football. However, nothing like Valencia, that much is certain."
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
