Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta says that Bukayo Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu are “doubts” for Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has said that two of his integral players are “doubts” for Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Gunners could have been knocked off their Premier League perch by the time they arrive at the Theatre of Dreams, as Manchester City will return to the summit if they beat Fulham on Saturday.
The champions are just one point adrift of Arsenal with a match in hand, meaning that Arteta’s men must pray for Pep Guardiola‘s charges to slip up in at least one of their final three games if they are to end their 20-year title drought.
Arsenal are doing their bit to take the race for glory to the wire with a four-game winning run, most recently putting three past Bournemouth without reply last Saturday, where only Jurrien Timber was absent due to injury.
The Dutchman has taken part in two Under-21s matches and is on the cusp of a senior comeback, leading to hopes that Arteta would have every man available at Old Trafford, but a pair of fresh concerns have apparently arisen.
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Speaking to reporters in Friday’s pre-game press conference, Arteta said that both Bukayo Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu would require once-overs this weekend after their training rhythms were disrupted this week.
Saka, who is often seen walking gingerly towards the end of Premier League matches, was seen with strapping on his knee in practice recently, while Tomiyasu did not take to the outdoor pitches at London Colney on Thursday.
The injury-riddled Japan international is understood to have stayed inside the facilities, although Arteta is keeping his fingers crossed that Saturday’s training session can “resolve” any bumps or bruises.
“A few doubts that we can resolve tomorrow as we have another training session, but we’ll have to wait and see. A few names,” Arteta said, before replying “Yes” when asked whether those question marks related specifically to Saka and Tomiyasu.
Who could replace Saka, Tomiyasu at Old Trafford?
Gooners and rival fans have learned by now to always take Arteta’s injury updates with a pinch of salt, especially ahead of a game of such magnitude, but there is enough evidence to suggest that the Spaniard is not just using the smoke and mirrors tactic this time around.
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Tomiyasu’s potential absence would not prove as problematic as Saka’s; Arsenal are well-versed in coping without the former Bologna man and have two natural replacements on that side of the field.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior are both on standby if needed, although neither man has been on top of their game throughout the season, hence Tomiyasu’s recent promotion to first-choice left-back.
Of course, Timber – whose two matches for the youth team last month both came at left-back – would be an alternative option in normal circumstances, but any senior minutes for the Dutchman will almost certainly arrive from the bench on Sunday.
Out-and-out stand-ins for Saka are in shorter supply at the Emirates, though, as Reiss Nelson – arguably the only other true right-winger at the club – is out of favour and is often overlooked for a spot in the matchday squad.
As such, either Fabio Vieira or Gabriel Jesus – who ended the Bournemouth victory at right-wing – would be expected to go head-to-head for the chance to deputise for Saka, but no soul should be shocked to see the Englishman passed fit for Sunday.
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