MISSING STARS: THE REAL REASON WILLIAM SALIBA AND JURRIëN TIMBER SKIPPED ARSENAL TRAINING
Mikel Arteta confirms William Saliba and Jurriën Timber will miss the UCL clash with Kairat. Find out who will start in defence.
Mikel Arteta confirmed William Saliba will miss Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Kairat Almaty after picking up an injury. He’s not alone—Jurriën Timber is also out, and Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are suspended, so none of them will feature.
Speaking to the press about Saliba and Timber missing training, Arteta said, “They’re not available… they’ve got some niggles. It actually gives us a chance to work with them differently and get them back in the best shape possible.”
Missing Saliba, Timber, Rice, and Merino isn’t ideal, but if there’s a game to be without them, it’s this one. Kairat are already out of the competition and show up at the Emirates as one of just three teams—alongside Slavia Prague and Villarreal—who haven’t won a single game in this season’s group stage.
So, who steps in with Saliba and Timber sidelined?
Honestly, Arteta probably would’ve rotated anyway. This gives key players a rest and lets others like Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera get some minutes. Expect those two to slot in, likely forming a back four with Piero Hincapié and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Lewis-Skelly hasn’t seen much action lately, so he’ll be itching to make an impression.
Mosquera’s already filled in for Saliba this season—Arteta knows what he’s getting. Sure, he’s not as polished as Saliba, but the former Valencia defender has shown he’s reliable.
Then there’s Ben White. He used to be Arteta’s first-choice right-back when Timber was out long-term. Over the past year, though, he’s lost that spot and now usually comes in when Arteta wants to close out a game or isn’t facing top opposition.
The Kairat match is a chance for Arsenal to hit refresh.
They’ve only picked up two points from their last three Premier League games, and their lead at the top has shrunk to four. This fixture gives them a breather.
Arteta called the players’ reaction to Sunday’s shock defeat against Manchester United “excellent” and “encouraging” after some honest reflection. “We took a moment to bring the temperature down, to pause, to reflect and ask two questions,” he explained. “How do we feel, and how do we want to live the next four months?”
What came out of it was simple: they’ve earned a shot at four trophies, and for the next four months, they’re going to play with joy, bravery, and a real belief they’ll win.
“That’s the mindset, and that’s where we’re putting our energy. I hope everyone connected to the club, especially the fans, jumps on board—because this is how we’re going to live the next four months. We deserve it.”
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.”
