Mikel Arteta Provides Update on Injured Trio

At least three players may be missing in action when Arsenal take on Shakhtar Donetsk in UEFA Champions League action tonight, Tuesday 22 October.

In a pre-match conference on Monday, 21 October, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta provided an injury update on skipper Martin Odegaard, right winger Bukayo Saka and defender Jurrien Timber.

“They are closer, and both [are] progressing really well,” Arteta commented on Odegaard and Saka, who have been recovering from knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. “Martin is still not fit. With Bukayo, let’s see how he feels today and [after] the training session we have later on.”

However, follow-up reports noted that Saka was absent from the Gunners’ training session later that day, suggesting that the 23-year-old Englishman will be unable to play tonight at Emirates Stadium in London, England.

As for Timber, who has been sidelined with a muscular injury, Arteta said: “It’s going to be close. We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group because he has not done that yet. But he will be pretty close, hopefully.”

Like Saka, however, Timber was also absent from team training.

Will Arsenal be able to take down Shakhtar without three of their major stars? As always, watch this space!

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