Ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, Mikel Arteta is facing a pivotal period as Arsenal manager. The Gunners are gearing up for a crucial Premier League encounter at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, following Manchester City’s victory over Luton, and they will be keeping a close eye on the result of Liverpool versus Crystal Palace.
After the showdown with Aston Villa, Arsenal’s attention will shift to the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, with the tie finely poised at 2-2. Arteta has been focused on preparing his squad for the Villa clash while also addressing any potential issues, notably surrounding Gabriel Magalhaes’ fitness.
With the demanding schedule in mind, rotation is likely, with Takehiro Tomiyasu possibly earning his first start in over four months. As usual, Arsenal’s training sessions at Emirates Stadium have provided glimpses of noteworthy moments, offering insights into their preparations for the challenges ahead.
No Gabriel
Concerns surrounding Gabriel’s availability escalated after he was not spotted in team training on Friday. Mikel Arteta’s comments during a press conference did little to allay fears, as he remained noncommittal about the Brazil international’s status.
“We’ve got one more day to prepare the match,” Arteta stated when pressed about Gabriel’s situation. “We will see tomorrow if everyone is available. We have some but hopefully with another day we’ll be okay.” With Gabriel already under scrutiny, apprehension grew with the release of the latest training photos.
Despite well over 100 images from the Emirates Stadium session, Gabriel was conspicuously absent in all of them. It remains uncertain whether this absence was intentional, perhaps as a tactical move by Arsenal, or if Gabriel indeed sat out the session. His true availability is likely to only become clear closer to kickoff at 3:30 pm.
Tomiyasu Hint
While Gabriel, William Saliba, and Ben White have been mainstays in the Arsenal defense this season, left-back has been a position of concern for Mikel Arteta. Initially, Jurrien Timber occupied the role, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko serving as his backups. However, injuries have plagued all three players throughout the campaign.
In recent months, Jakub Kiwior has stepped in admirably, but Zinchenko has reclaimed the starting spot in the last two league matches. Although the Polish international featured in the Bayern clash, the congested fixture list might prompt Arteta to give Tomiyasu an opportunity. Some training images suggest that this could indeed be the case, hinting at a potential change in the lineup.
Several photos revealed players donning orange bibs, indicating a probable involvement in a small-sided game. The composition of teams in such training matches can often mirror the potential starting XI, and in this instance, Zinchenko was spotted wearing a bib while Tomiyasu was not. Additionally, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira were also seen sporting bibs, though it’s improbable that either will feature in the starting lineup come Sunday afternoon.
Nketiah Disappointment
Despite Arsenal’s injury woes in the attacking department, Eddie Nketiah has struggled to secure consistent playing time this season. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined for extended periods, the likes of Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard have been preferred options through the center, leaving Nketiah with a mere 54 minutes of game time in the last nine matches.
It’s understandable that such limited opportunities may have dampened his spirits, as evidenced by his demeanor when spotted walking out for the session. While it’s possible that the cameras captured him at an inopportune moment, it’s not surprising if he’s feeling disheartened, especially considering the slim chances of him getting significant playing time over the weekend.
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