
Mikel Arteta has encountered both positive and negative developments as Arsenal prepares for their trip to Italy. Riccardo Calafiori, who sustained a calf injury while on international duty with Italy, has made a full recovery and was able to participate in training on Wednesday morning, providing a welcome boost for the team. Additionally, Declan Rice has completed his one-match domestic suspension after being sent off during Arsenal’s clash against Brighton last month.
Another piece of encouraging news for Arsenal is that Bukayo Saka, who was forced to leave the field during the match against Tottenham due to cramp, returned to training on Wednesday morning. Saka’s availability is a significant boost as he remains a vital part of Arteta’s squad. The initial concern about his condition following the Spurs match seems to have been alleviated.
However, not all the news is positive for Arsenal. Team captain Martin Odegaard is facing a prolonged absence after suffering ligament damage to his ankle. This injury is a major blow to the squad, as Odegaard’s creativity and leadership have been pivotal to Arsenal’s success.
Other players also remain unavailable due to injuries, including Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. These absences could force Arteta to make significant adjustments to his lineup.
Arsenal faces a challenging week, with a quick turnaround between their Champions League match in Italy on Thursday and a highly anticipated Premier League showdown against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. This packed schedule could lead Arteta to rotate his squad, especially given the injuries and the need to maintain freshness for the City game.
The starting lineup for the match against Atalanta includes Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, and Jesus. On the bench, Arsenal has Neto, Porter, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Gower, S. Oulad-M’Hand, Trossard, Sterling, and Butler-Oyedeji.
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