Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta, provided updates on the injury status of two key players, Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu, following their recent 2-0 victory over Lyon in the Emirates Cup. This victory saw goals from center-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, contributing to a solid performance ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season opener against Wolves.
Unfortunately, both Timber and Tomiyasu were unable to participate in the match due to injuries. Timber, who had a challenging debut season in England last year, has been sidelined by a foot injury. This issue also kept him out of Arsenal’s earlier 4-1 win against Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Arteta shared some positive news, indicating that Timber has been engaged in individual training and is expected to rejoin the team for full training in the coming week.
On the other hand, Tomiyasu’s situation is more concerning. The Japan international sustained a knee injury at the start of pre-season, which will see him miss the initial matches of the upcoming season.
Arteta emphasized the need for patience as Tomiyasu works on his recovery, acknowledging that it will take several weeks for him to return to full fitness.
During the match against Lyon, Riccardo Calafiori, a recent summer signing, made his debut for Arsenal, coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute for Oleksandr Zinchenko. Arteta expressed his delight with the fans’ reaction to Calafiori’s introduction, describing the immediate connection between the player and supporters as a testament to the club’s strong bond with its fanbase.
Arteta also reflected on Arsenal’s overall progress during the pre-season. He noted that the matches against Leverkusen and Lyon were highly competitive and served as valuable preparation for the team. The coach praised the squad’s performance, particularly in the first half of the Lyon match, where he believed they displayed moments of top-quality football.
Overall, Arteta was pleased with how the pre-season unfolded, considering it a success and a promising sign for the challenges ahead in the new Premier League campaign.
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