Arsenal know who is the least likely player to make the squad at Manchester City on Sunday after Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and more’s injury woes.
The Gunners travel to Etihad Stadium in a crunch clash for the Premier League title race this weekend. Arsenal top the table after 28 matches but have not won away to Manchester City since January 2015. The Citizens have won seven of their last eight encounters on home soil.
But Martinelli helped Arsenal secure a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Emirates Stadium in October. It snapped their 12-game top-flight losing streak in the meeting, having not beaten Pep Guardiola’s side at home since December 2015. But Martinelli is now an injury concern.
Arsenal injury latest ahead of visiting Manchester City
Martinelli withdrew from Brazil’s March internationals after sustaining a cut to his foot when Arsenal won 6-0 at Sheffield United. Compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes also pulled out of games against England and Spain as the Gunners’ centre-back recovered from an inflamed Achilles.
Arsenal also welcomed Saka back to London Colney after he withdrew from the England side with a muscle injury. While Thomas Partey asked Ghana to omit him to stay in north London and work on his fitness, alongside Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus, after recent injuries.
Now, football.london reports that Martinelli, Gabriel, Saka, Partey, Tomiyasu and Jesus could all make Arsenal’s team at Manchester City. Fears that Martinelli’s season is over are wide of the mark. But Timber is the least likely to return from his injury when Arsenal visit Man City.
Jurrien Timber is the least likely to return from an injury
Timber is unlikely to return just yet but Arsenal are hopeful of having an almost fully-fit side at Manchester City. The 22-year-old has not featured since the opening day of the Premier League season, having undergone surgery for the ACL injury he sustained after 50 minutes.
Read more: Arsenal ace Jurrien Timber’s life outside of football from height to brothers
Boss Mikel Arteta will welcome his players back to London Colney on Thursday for their first full squad session since the international break. Timber has taken part in group sessions for the past few weeks. Yet, despite stepping up his recovery, any return is not yet on the cards.
Arteta will surely be counting down the days until Arsenal, finally, get Timber back from his ACL injury. The Spaniard has hailed the versatile defender as a ‘really special guy’ during his lay-off. Arteta also relished Timber’s ability to play along the backline after his arrival in July.
