A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Emmanuel Adebayor admits he is ‘not a big fan’ of one of Mikel Arteta’s regulars and a Manchester City ace sends a title warning.
Jurrien Timber hopes to return from his injury when Arsenal host Bournemouth
Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber hopes to return from his ACL injury when Arsenal host AFC Bournemouth on Saturday. That is according to the Evening Standard, which reports the 22-year-old is pushing to prove his fitness after starting in the Gunners’ Under-21 side twice.
Timber has not featured at the senior level since he sustained an ACL injury which required surgery on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest last August. But the centre-half – who can also play as a left and a right-back – wants to make their squad this weekend.
Arsenal will continue to assess Timber’s fitness before Mikel Arteta decides on giving him a role against Bournemouth. The Gunners boss is keen to welcome the defender back into his plans. Arteta envisaged Timber playing a key role in north London after his transfer last July.
Read more about Timber’s hopes for making Arsenal’s team against Bournemouth, here.
Emmanuel Adebayor is ‘not a big fan’ of Arsenal star Kai Havertz
Emmanuel Adebayor admits he is ‘not a big fan’ of Kai Havertz as he lacks one key trait to be the main striker for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta has utilised what the 24-year-old gives as a centre-forward in the club’s recent games. But Adebayor feels he is not strong enough to be a No9.
Havertz has adapted to his role in Arsenal’s attack superbly with seven goals and four assists in his last eight appearances as a striker. His goal threat from midfield has also helped him to pen 12 goals and six assists over 34 Premier League games since his transfer from Chelsea.
Only Bukayo Saka (15) has outscored Havertz in Arsenal’s top-flight games so far this term. The club’s natural No9s Eddie Nketiah (5 in 27) and Gabriel Jesus (4 in 24) have also scored fewer goals than Havertz has as a centre-forward. But Havertz is yet to convince Adebayor.
“He has adapted well but I am not a big fan of the player,” Adebayor told Premier League Productions. “He isn’t that strong and when you are playing up front for a team like Arsenal, first and foremost, you have to be strong and you have to be clever.”
Read more about what Adebayor has had to say about Arsenal attacker Havertz, here.
Nathan Ake warns Arsenal the Premier League title is in Manchester City’s hands
Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has warned Arsenal that the Premier League title is in the Citizens’ ‘hands’. The Gunners currently head the top-flight table after 35 games. But the Etihad Stadium natives are just a point behind and also have one game in hand over Arsenal.
The Emirates Stadium side will need their rivals to at least draw one of their final four games for Mikel Arteta to win Arsenal’s first title in 20 years. Manchester City will see out their bid for a fourth straight title against Wolves, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.
Arsenal are relying on favours as they prepare to end the season against AFC Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton. So, Ake is keen to remind the north London giants the title is not in their control and it does not matter what Arsenal do if Man City win their matches.
“For me, it doesn’t matter really,” Ake said, via quotes by football.london. “It’s in our hands, so we’re not depending on what they do. That’s the difference from last year. We were still depending on what they were doing. This season, it’s in our hands.”
Read more about what Ake has had to say about the Premier League title race, here.
