Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli missed training on Monday morning. Saka has a foot injury while Martinelli was absent due to illness ahead of the Champions League tie at PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal will head to the Netherlands knowing they have already confirmed top spot in Group B. PSV have also already qualified due to a better head-to-head record against third-placed Lens.
Mikel Arteta will likely look to rotate his team ahead of the weekend’s Premier League match at home to Brighton. But it appears a couple of decisions could be taken out of his hands already.
Saka and Martinelli were absent from the final training session before flying to the Netherlands on Monday afternoon. The Evening Standard says that Saka has picked up a knock on his foot but is still likely to travel.
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Martinelli, though, is unlikely to fly due to illness. Arsenal’s squad is already limited due to injuries and Arteta can’t afford too many more absentees.
One positive is that Emile Smith Rowe was back training with his team-mates. The attacking midfielder has not played since the end of October after picking up a knee injury in the home win over Sheffield United.
It has been a hugely frustrating 18 months for Smith Rowe, with the match against the Blades his first Premier League start since May 2022. A decision will be made this afternoon as to whether he is fit enough to travel with the squad to Eindhoven.
Arsenal continue to be without long-term absentees Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey. Timber may return later in the season from the anterior cruciate knee ligament injury he picked up on his Premier League debut.
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Partey will hope to be fit later this month ahead of Ghana’s participation at the Africa Cup of Nations in January. Fabio Vieira underwent groin surgery in November and will be missing until the New Year.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is also absent through a calf injury he sustained in the recent 2-1 win over Wolves. Arteta confirmed the Japan star is likely to be out for a while with the issue.
Arteta could hand minutes to the likes of Jorginho, Jakub Kiwior, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson in Tuesday’s dead rubber. Youngsters Reuell Walters and Ethan Nwaneri could also be pushing for game time.
Arsenal host Brighton in the league on Sunday, aiming to bounce back from the 1-0 loss at Aston Villa. They then face a trip to Liverpool two days before Christmas.
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