Arsenal visit Mansfield Town in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, and manager Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on a handful of crucial players ahead of the clash.
The Gunners hung on to beat Brighton 1-0 at the Amex in their last outing, courtesy of Bukayo Saka’s early deflected effort. This coincided with Manchester City failing to beat Nottingham Forest – a result that has significantly lifted the mood around N5.
However, Arteta’s side now turn their attentions to a different competition, as they continue their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple. Overcoming Mansfield would set up an FA Cup quarter-final just after the March international break, taking the Gunners one step closer to a potential second trip to Wembley this term.
Mikel Arteta issues injury updates on William Saliba and Martin Odegaard
While Arsenal have few major absences, aside from Mikel Merino, Arteta is having to contend with minor niggles in his squad on a weekly basis.
William Saliba missed the trip to Brighton in midweek, with Arteta confirming prior to that game that the Frenchman had turned his ankle in the Chelsea clash. Given how important the imperious defender is to Arsenal’s credentials as title winners, his absence on the south coast will have alarmed Gunners supporters.
Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard missed the encounter with the Seagulls, as he continues to struggle with a recurring knee problem. Arsenal are carefully managing the Norwegian, although there will be fears that he’s not going to garner match fitness in time for the run-in, given he’s not featured in six of the North Londoners’ last eight matches.
Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Arteta provided an update on Saliba. Asked whether hia ankle issue was related to ones earlier this term, he said: “No, it’s the other one.
“We thought the same after the game. He wasn’t comfortable to finish the game and after that away he didn’t have a good feeling. So let’s see if he recovers quickly,” before saying “I doubt it,” over his availability this weekend.
Watch Arteta’s response regarding Saliba below (4:55 onwards):
In terms of Odegaard, Arteta didn’t touch on his captain’s availability before facing Mansfield. Ahead of his side’s win at Brighton on Tuesday, he said: “We have to wait and see how comfortable he is to do certain actions.”
Ben White injury update provided
Similarly to Kai Havertz and Odegaard, Ben White hasn’t been able to string a run of games together this season without sustaining an injury. The right-back has been riddled with unfortunate fitness issues over the last 18 months, prompting many to question his future at the Emirates.
Unavailable for the visit to his former club in midweek, Arteta will be hopeful that the defender is ready in time to feature against Mansfield. If not, the Spaniard will have to call upon 16-year-old Marli Salmon at right-back, if he is to rest Jurrien Timber.
The manager did not manage to on White’s possible availability for Sunday’s game in Nottinghamshire in his press conference on Friday afternoon.
“Let’s see,” was the only update from Arteta, per The Standard, on the versatile defender ahead of their Saturday lunchtime clash against Mansfield. The ex-Brighton man was entirely absent against Chelsea while he also missed playing in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
