Raya remains a doubt but Arsenal injury boosts for 5 other stars | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta remains evasive on the fitness of Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, but there was good news on a number of other injured stars in Friday’s press conference.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Jurrien Timber of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on August 24, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsenal are set to face Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, returning to Premier League action after their League Cup win over Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night.

Mikel Arteta spoke to the media ahead of the Leicester game, and he had a number of injury updates including for David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Mikel Merino.

First, on Raya’s injury, Arteta said: “We have to wait 24 hours to see if it’s looking good or not that good.

“It’s not a risk (to play him against Leicester with PSG on Tuesday), it’s about our player being fit and available or not.

“When we have that clarity for Leicester, which is the main thing that we are thinking at the moment, we will make the decision tomorrow.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Ben White of Arsenal celebrates victory in the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 15, 2024. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

There were more positive updates for Timber and White, both of whom are seemingly recovering well after their recent knocks.

“Yeah, Jurrien [Timber] was able to take part in training today,” Arteta revealed. “So that’s good news. So he will be available in the squad (against Leicester). And Ben [White] hopefully as well.”

There was good news on young Lewis-Skelly too, with Arteta confirming that the 18-year-old is fine. He was simply suffering with cramp against Bolton.

Mikel Merino wearing a sling in the stands during Arsenal’s match against Brighton (Photo via TNT Sports)

Arteta went on to confirm that both Tomiyasu and Merino are in partial training and progressing well, though neither will be available against Leicester.

“Tomorrow is too soon, the next week we will see,” Arteta said of Merino. “He had partial training today. He’s been working so hard, and he’s looking good. It’s just about the healing of that bone and how matured that is to expose him to contact.

“We are trying to keep him in the cage, because he has been pushing everybody – all the physios, all the doctors, everybody!”

Leandro Trossard will be back from his suspension, so the only other injured players are Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Kieran Tierney, none of whom are expected to return imminently.