Arteta Confirms Recovery of Three Key Players for Season Start
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s coach, has confirmed that Gabriel Magalhães, Jurriën Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori will be available for the start of the Premier League season.
The three players missed the match against Tottenham in Hong Kong, where Spurs won 1-0. This match, the first North London derby outside the United Kingdom, was decided by a goal from Pape Matar Sarr.
Both Gabriel and Timber did not participate in any of Arsenal’s three pre-season games in Asia due to injuries sustained at the end of last season.
Gabriel played 45 minutes in a closed-door match against Watford after recovering from a hamstring injury, but felt discomfort in training and hasn’t played since then.
Timber underwent ankle surgery in May and also didn’t play any minutes on the tour. Calafiori had to be substituted during Arsenal’s 3-2 victory over Newcastle in Singapore, but has already returned to training.Jurriën Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel are expected to be fit for the start of the season.Faced with the question of whether there were doubts about the availability of the three players for the league’s opening match against Manchester United on August 17, Arteta replied: “I don’t think so. If they evolve as they have in recent days, Gabriel Magalhães, Calafiori and Timber, the three will be available.”
Leandro Trossard, who came on as a substitute in the second half against Tottenham, had to be substituted 15 minutes later.
Arteta also downplayed concerns about a possible serious injury to Kepa Arrizabalaga, stating: “He also felt something in the match against Newcastle. I think it’s a matter of days, probably.”
“If that [match against Tottenham] were in the Premier League, he could have played, but we decided not to risk it.”
