Mikel Arteta has shared a concerning update on the fitness of Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba ahead of Arsenal’s clash against Burnley.
Arsenal have the chance to extend their winning run to nine games and increase their lead at the top of the Premier League when they visit Turf Moor on Saturday.
The Gunners edged Crystal Palace at the Emirates last week and now have a four-point lead over second-placed Bournemouth, while their other title rivals are floundering.
Burnley are in decent form though, winning their last two matches to move five points clear of the relegation zone.
And Arteta will take on the Clarets without at least one of his star players, confirming that Martinelli is not available for selection as he is still recovering from an unspecified injury.
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The forward was seen limping down the tunnel after the Palace win before missing Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory over Brighton and Arteta is not sure how long he will be sidelined for.
The manager is also sweating on the fitness of centre-back Saliba who had to be subbed off at half-time against the Eagles.
‘No (new injuries), I think we have the same ones,’ Arteta said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
‘Martinelli’s still out, we don’t know (how long) yet, but I think this game is going to come too early.
‘Saliba we have to wait and see. We have another training session this afternoon.’
Arteta did have some more positive news about Arsenal’s long-term injury worries, with Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus all in the treatment room with knee issues.
The rest are still getting closer. I think in the right direction, but not available yet,’ the manager said.
‘I would say weeks, and some of them pretty soon, hopefully, if they keep evolving the way they are doing. Difficult to put a game, you know, that we have the international break, which is a two-week break there.
‘And after that, I think we’ll have some back. I don’t know if it’s going to be all of them, some of them, but we’ll be quite close by then.’
Arsenal’s first fixture after the next international break is one of the biggest of their season: the North London Derby against Tottenham at the Emirates.
‘I’m excited because they are tremendous players,’ Arteta added. ‘I see them work every single day, how desperate they are to be part of the team.
‘The huge boost that is going to be for the squad to have and those players again, after such a long, long time, so really happy that I think it’s going to be very soon.’
More to follow…
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