Mikel Arteta heads into Arsenal’s home Premier League match against Manchester United with uncertainty surrounding the availability of some key players.
Arsenal host United on Saturday evening as they look to continue their climb up the table, having won six of their last seven league matches.
United meanwhile lost at home to Sheffield United in midweek, which prevented Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side from returning to the summit, and they now face an Arsenal team who handed them their previous league defeat back on 1 November.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty at Old Trafford sealed an impressive 1-0 win for Arsenal almost three months ago, but the striker is one of a handful of doubts for the reverse fixture this weekend.
Arteta has admitted he is unsure whether Aubameyang will be available after the club’s captain missed the last two games to be with his unwell mother.
“I don’t know,” Arteta said on Friday. “I spoke with him yesterday and things are looking better at the moment but we’re going to have to wait and see.”
Arteta would not specify whether Aubameyang left the country, however, meaning it is unclear whether the striker would face any quarantine issues which prevents him from playing on Saturday.
— AUBA(@Aubameyang7) January 27, 2021
“I don’t know what will happen,” Arteta said when asked about quarantining. “He had to support his family and he had to be with them.”
In his potential absence, Alexandre Lacazette is likely to resume up front, with the Frenchman starting five of their last six league games and scoring five goals during that unbeaten run.
Nicolas Pepe stepped in to replace Aubameyang against Southampton, scoring in what was his first league start since mid-December, and the winger will challenge Gabriel Martinelli and Willian for a starting role against United assuming Bukayo Saka will be named in their front three once again.
Smith Rowe and Partey uncertainty
In midfield, both Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey face late fitness tests after the pair both picked up knocks against Southampton.
Once more, Arteta said he was unsure about whether the duo would feature. “I don’t know,” he said. “Let’s see how they come today [Thursday]. They had some discomforts in different parts, Thomas and Emile, and we will have to see how they evolve. We still have some days until the game but not long so let’s see how they recover.”
Willian replaced Smith Rowe on Tuesday, but Arteta could opt to hand a debut to new loan signing Martin Odegaard after the attacking midfielder completed his move from Real Madrid earlier this month.
Odegaard rarely featured for Real Madrid this season, however, and so Arteta could be hoping Smith Rowe’s minor injury problem is one he has overcome by Saturday evening.
Partey meanwhile appears to be winning his race to be fit, with Goal reporting the midfielder is confident he will be available on the weekend.
Tierney back?
Left-back Kieran Tierney missed the match against Southampton but after he was pictured training earlier this week the Scot could be back in time to face United.
Tierney’s return would see Cedric Soares’ run of two league starts come to an end, unless the latter is favoured over Hector Bellerin at right-back.
In central defence, Rob Holding and David Luiz have started the last three games together, and will be expected to continue their partnership on Saturday ahead of their ever-present goalkeeper in the league, Bernd Leno.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Smith Rowe, Saka, Lacazette, Pepe
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/39vR6Wa
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