Mikel Arteta has issued an injury update on Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League fixture with Shakhtar Donetsk.
All three were unavailable at the weekend as the Gunners slipped to an untimely 2-0 away defeat against Bournemouth to drop four points off Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
Saka had hoped to play a part in Saturday’s clash, but Arteta eventually opted not to risk the winger who picked up a slight hamstring injury on international duty with England.
Odegaard has not featured since suffering an ankle injury with Norway last month, while Timber has missed the last two games having picked up a muscular injury during Arsenal’s last Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain.
The fixtures come thick and fast for Arteta’s side who must now turn their attention back to European football when they face Ukrainian side Shakhtar on Tuesday.
Arsenal have four points from their opening two games in the new eight-match league stage after a draw with Atalanta and an impressive home win against PSG.
Speaking on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s clash, Arteta provided the latest on the key trio’s fitness status.
‘They are closer. They are both progressing really well,’ Arteta told reporters when asked about Saka and Odegaard.
‘Martin is still not fit. Let’s see how Bukayo is after the training session later on.’
On Timber, Arteta added: ‘He’s going to be close. We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group. It was a muscular injury.’
Saturday’s defeat marked Arsenal’s first in a competitive fixture since their 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last April.
But Arteta is hopeful that the quick turnaround will benefit his side and allow them to get straight back to winning ways ahead of a huge clash with Liverpool next weekend.
‘We have to start tomorrow,’ the Spaniard said. ‘The desire is there. We are desperate play this kind of match.
‘The atmosphere will be terrific tomorrow night so let’s produce that and earn the right to win the game.’
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