Arteta has been on the spotlight lately with many media outlets getting very salty over Arsenal’s set piece prowess that guaranteed three points against Manchester United.
With the Manchester United game out of the way, Arsenal heads to Craven Cottage to take on a Fulham side that will be without Reiss Nelson, that’s ineligible to play his parent club. Mikel Arteta lined up his defense for such an important game without Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori, with Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko featuring in their stead.
With Fulham currently in sixth place and playing very well, it is important for Arsenal to go into the game with their best assets, especially with the fact that Arteta’s men lost at Craven Cottage last season.
Arteta provides updates on key defenders
London, England, October 22nd 2024: Riccardo Calafiori 33 Arsenal sits on the ground while being checked by Gabriel Martinelli 11 Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League game between Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium in London, England Alexander Canillas/SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xAlexanderxCanillas/SPPx spp-en-AlCa-9U2A2967
Speaking with the journalists at the Sobha Realty Traning Centre, Arteta shared some vital updates on the availabilities of key defenders, Gabriel and Calafiori,
“We have a few, obviously it’s matchday-2 so we have to monitor a few players. We have a training session tomorrow so we will see how everybody is for Sunday.”
“Until we see tomorrow’s training session it’s very difficult to say something. Let’s see how they evolve in the next few days.”
The fact that Arsenal has an additional day to conduct team training is encouraging, as Gabriel and Calafiori would have a good chance to feature, which would bode well to them potentially getting a run out against Fulham.
I have a hunch that they are fully fit and Arteta is playing his usual mind games, but in their absence, I guess the manager can stick with the same back line that played so well against Manchester United.
Arsenal will have to be mindful of former star, Alex Iwobi, fresh from a brace against Brighton, and I’m sure Emile Smith Rowe will be motivated to put up a stormer against the manager that didn’t give him the opportunity to shine at the Emirates. Then there’s Bernd Leno, that turns to peak Manuel Neuer anytime he faces Arsenal.
