Arsenal will welcome back Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri for their Champions League game against Dinamo Zagreb, but William Saliba and Bukayo Saka remain out.
Mikel Arteta confirmed the duo will be involved in Wednesday’s game at the Emirates after both missed the Gunners’ last three games in all competitions against Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa, with 17-year-old Nwaneri also injured for their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
“Very positive news. We missed them for a few weeks and they returned today for training. They will be available for the game,” Arteta said on the returning pair.
The Spaniard also shared some positive news on the fitness of influential centre-back Saliba, who sat out Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Villa, but said tomorrow’s clash will come too soon.
Arteta added: “He’s evolving really well. The last few days he was feeling much better already but this game comes a little bit too early for him.”
England forward Saka is also stepping up his return after a hamstring injury picked up against Crystal Palace on December 21.
“That’s not going to change. I think it’s within the process and the time had. That phase is gone now.
“He’s doing really well. Feeling better day by day but we have to respect the healing process and then he has other stages to go through in the rehab.”
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Knockout qualification on the cards
The draw with Villa, which saw them surrender a two-goal lead, saw Arsenal lose further ground in the title race. The North Londoners are now six points adrift of Liverpool having played a game more than the leaders.
But there have been no such issues for Arteta’s men in Europe, with a win for the third-placed outfit on Wednesday all but securing their place in the last 16.
“So far we have done really well. We are in a strong position and now it’s time to capitalise at home,” Arteta said on tomorrow’s clash and their campaign so far.
“The work that we have done for many months, we need a strong performance against a really good side and we’ll try to do that.”
Automatic qualification to the last 16 with a top-eight finish brings with it the added bonus of not being involved in a two-legged knockout game, which could prove handily decrease in workload as they continue to fight in the league and the Carabao Cup.
“Let’s do what we have to do first which is always difficult because we are talking about the Champions League,” Arteta added. “If we manage to do that obviously we will have the best ideas on the table to make the right decision.
“Yeah it was very helpful [a break last season] with the schedule that we have for the last three months you can have a break and reset a little bit, work on things and rest some people but some people are back. That would be great.”
Arsenal transfer news
Arteta was asked about Arsenal’s January transfer activity as the window enters the final 10 days, with the North Londoners in the market for a striker addition.
“I understand it happens. I get a lot of people texting me ‘you after him’ and this. I don’t even know what they’re talking about.
“I don’t follow it too much. I have enough work to do with a lot of things so I don’t get too distracted with it.”
