Kepa Arrizabalaga Sidelined with Minor Injury

Kepa Arrizabalaga Sidelined with Injury as Arsenal’s Preseason Plans Take a Hit

Arsenal’s newly signed goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, sidelined with a minor injury during a training session in Hong Kong, ruling him out of the Gunners’ recent preseason friendly against Tottenham Hotspur.

The 30-year-old Spaniard, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea earlier this summer for £5 million, had impressed in earlier friendlies against AC Milan and Newcastle United. His sharp distribution and composure between the posts had fans optimistic about his role as a reliable backup to David Raya.

However, discomfort following the Newcastle match led to his absence against Spurs. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the setback but emphasized that the decision to rest Kepa was precautionary: “He could have played if it was competitive, but we didn’t want to risk him”.

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Notably, Kepa was seen arriving with the squad without any visible strapping or protective gear, suggesting the issue is not serious. Arsenal are expected to manage his recovery carefully, with hopes that he’ll be fit for upcoming friendlies against Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao in early August.

With other squad members like Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori also nursing minor injuries, Arteta is taking no chances as the team gears up for a demanding 2025/26 campaign. Fans will be watching closely to see if Kepa returns in time for the Premier League opener against Manchester United.