Report shows that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is sweating over the fitness of two of his attackers ahead of Saturday’s Premier League London derby with Brentford.
Reiss Nelson returned to full training last week but was not involved in their 1-0 loss to Everton, while Emile Smith Rowe is more of a doubt due to a fresh thigh injury.
Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny are definitely out as they recover from their respective knee surgeries, although the former is now stepping up his recovery at Arsenal’s training centre.
Jesus’s continued absence means another starting role for Eddie Nketiah, who has 13 goals from his last 13 starts at the Emirates, while Martin Odegaard captains the side from the number 10 role.
Everton limited the effectiveness of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli by doubling up on Arsenal’s wide men, but the pair should be in no danger of losing their spots here, in spite of Leandro Trossard’s bright cameo at Goodison Park and Fabio Vieira’s peach of a strike in September’s win over Brentford.
Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey – who was given the green light to start following a rib injury – also had off days on Merseyside, but the pair should keep Jorginho at bay once again.
Fresh from being named the Gunners’ Player of the Month for January, Oleksandr Zinchenko can expect to form an unchanged backline with Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
