Arsenal Team News: Saka, Odegaard and Saliba are confronted with late fitness tests for Man City Showdown

Arsenal will make last-minute decisions about Captain Martin Odegaard and winger Bukayo Saka prior to the Premier League collision of this weekend with Manchester City, with both players who have to deal with late fitness tests, said Mikel Arteta manager on Friday.

Saka has been sidelined since last month had a hamstring injury, while Odegaard is fighting a shoulder problem after he had come out early in the last two home games.

Arsenal is second behind Liverpool after four games and is unable to enter into points against the eighth placed city.

«If there is a chance (they play on Sunday), it will be after tomorrow’s session, because they have not done anything yet, so we have more information tomorrow,» Arteta said reporters prior to the tent game.

«Everything has changed for them so far. There are still a few things to erase and tomorrow we have more information about whether they are part of the team or whether they have the chance to be part of the team.»

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Center Back William Saliba, who left early in the 1-0 loss in Liverpool, returned to the Bank for Arsenal’s Midweek Champions League victory at Athletic Bilbao and also stands for a late fitness test.

Arteta also confirmed that Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino are both fine after head injury in the European collision.

Plow’s depth

A lack of team depth has derailed the title challenge of Arsenal in the past seasons, but after he had been great in the narrow season, it is no longer the case and arteta praised the impact that his replacements had made in his Champions League opener.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, on the couch after the signing sessions of Ebereechi Eze and Noni Madueke, immediately had an impact when they came up and scored in Tuesday’s 2-0 Bilba victory.

«You look historically at the top team, the team that has won a lot, the impact the finishers had has always been very, very high,» said Arteta.

“Nowadays you need that quality to unlock games and to be consistent every three days is even more difficult. That is what we need.

«We are very lucky because we have players who have impact. They certainly did that and now we need consistency.»

After losing eight consecutive games at the city in all competitions, Arsenal is unbeaten in the last four competition meetings, including a 5-1 demolition of Pep Guardiola’s side in their last fixture in February.

«The preparation for the game will be to win, that’s for sure,» said Arteta confidently.

«Compete against one of the best teams in the world (IS) a good test for us to see our level.»

He also praised his mentor Guardiola, who wants to bounce back after a rare trophy season with city.

«What he has already done in this competition is unprecedented. The level he has placed in the standard of this competition is in my opinion unprecedented,» Arteta added.

«Maintaining those levels for 10 years is already something incredible and the requirements are for him. He wants to continue because he believes he can do it again.»

Published on September 19, 2025