As Arsenal prepares to welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium, manager Mikel Arteta faces a challenging situation with some key players ruled out due to injuries. The Gunners are eager to start their Premier League campaign on a high note, but they will have to do so without three crucial stars.
Takehiro Tomiyasu: The versatile defender is sidelined with a knee injury. Tomiyasu has been a reliable presence in Arsenal’s backline, and his absence will be felt deeply. Arteta confirmed that Tomiyasu is still a few weeks away from full fitness.
Kieran Tierney: The Scottish left-back is also out of action due to a hamstring injury, he’s expected to be out for a few more weeks.
Fabio Vieira: The Portuguese midfielder is dealing with a minor hip problem. While not as severe as the injuries to Tomiyasu and Tierney, Vieira’s availability is still in doubt. Arteta mentioned that the club doctors would need to assess him further before making a final decision.
Adding to Arteta’s concerns is the situation with Jurrien Timber. The Dutch defender, who recently joined Arsenal, has been dealing with a foot problem. Although he has returned to training, there is still uncertainty about his match fitness. Arteta faces a tough decision on whether to include Timber in the squad for the Wolves clash or to give him more time to recover fully.
With these key players unavailable, Arteta will need to rely on the depth of his squad. New signings and academy talents may get the opportunity to step up and prove their worth.
Despite these challenges, Arteta remains optimistic about the team’s prospects. “We’ve had a really challenging pre-season, but the team has looked really sharp and ready for the competition,” he said during his pre-match press conference.
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