Manager Mikel Arteta has given an update on Victor Goqueres, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Magalhães ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League game against Chelsea on Sunday.
Manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that Victor Goqueres and Kai Havertz could return from injury for Arsenal’s Premier League match against Chelsea on Sunday. The Gunners have been short on strikers in recent weeks, with midfielder Mikel Merino joining through the draft, but Arteta gave a positive update in his pre-match press conference.
Gokeres has missed Arsenal’s last four games with a hamstring injury, while Havertz was sidelined with a knee injury in the first game of the season in August. Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday was one of their best results of the season, as they fared well without two of their forwards, and Arteta will be happy to welcome them back.
“We have another day tomorrow, so let’s see how everyone does,” he said Friday. “It’s not clear yet, but they’re getting closer and closer. So we’re feeling very positive about both of them. And let’s see.”
Bayern’s victory ended with Leandro Trossard being sent off in the first half due to an injury. Asked for an update on the versatile Belgian attacker, Arteta said: “Well, with Leo, we have another test today. We’ll have to see how he’s doing, but it doesn’t seem like it’s that big. So there’s still a few hours left and we’ll have to wait and see.”
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Asked if he could play at Stamford Bridge, Arteta added: “There’s a potential opportunity, yes.”
Arteta also revealed that Gabriel Jesus is close to making a long-awaited return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury after taking part in a friendly behind closed doors this week. “Oh, it actually happened,” Arteta said. “So Gabi came in, Ethan[Nwaneri]came in. He wanted minutes, so we took advantage of that opportunity. It was very positive to give that to guys who needed exposure and competition.”
Regarding Jesus, he added: “We have to see. Obviously he has been out for 11 months and we need to make that progress. We have to see how his body, his knee reacts and what else he needs. So are the players that we have available and it has to make sense to get the right balance in the team. The good thing is that he is very, very close at the moment.”
Martin Odegaard and Noni Maduke returned from injury against Bayern, but centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is still a long way off returning to Arsenal after picking up a thigh problem while playing for Brazil during the international break.
“Yeah, not yet. I think he’s progressing really, really well,” Arteta said. “We’ll have to wait a little longer for the scans to make the timing more accurate. But we’re very confident it won’t be that long, especially given the way Gabi has overcome all the injuries and the way he’s pushing everyone.”
Asked if there was a chance Gabriel would return before the end of the year, he said: “I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see.”
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