Mikel Arteta has issued an update on the fitness of our first team squad ahead of our final home game of the 2025/26 season.
We face Burnley at Emirates Stadium on Monday night, and the boss feels that some of those who have spent a spell on the sidelines may have a chance of being involved in the game.
“Not much (of an update) at the moment,” Mikel told the media on Thursday, “we still have a few days till Monday.
“We’ll have to wait and see how certain players evolve and whether they are available or not.”
But while most of our first-team squad remain in contention for our final three games of the campaign, right-backs Jurrien Timber and Ben White will be sidelined.
“We need to look at alternatives,” the boss said at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, “the two players that we have, they are not available at the moment.
“The good thing is that we have experienced that all over the pitch this season, because when we had issues, normally they were in the same positions as well.
“We have managed still to find the right level of performance and consistency, so I’m sure we will do that.”
Ben picked up his injury against West Ham, and as well as missing out on the last few games of our season, the boss cast doubt over his chances of being involved in this summer’s World Cup.
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“We have to wait and see. It looks like a long-term injury. At the moment, the focus is can we have him back and be available for Arsenal.
“That’s not going to happen in many, many weeks.”
Ben joins Jurrien on our injury list heading into the final stages of the season, the Dutch international having been out since March.
Despite not being on the pitch, Jurrien has still impressed the boss with his attitude in and around the squad.
“He wanted to be very close to the team. He’s progressed a little bit in the last few days. We’re going to try to get him fit and available as quickly as possible, but let’s see.
“He’s been out for a while, unfortunately. He’s such an important player for us. We all know that and he’s doing everything he can to help the team in any capacity. We know his leadership, his quality and how much the team needs him.”
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As well as Ben and Jurrien, Riccardo Calafiori was also forced off in our win over West Ham last weekend, with Mikel unsure of his potential involvement on Monday night.
“We don’t know whether he’s going to be available now. We still have days ahead. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious. We’ll have to wait and see how he reacts.”
With the majority of our injury concerns in the full-back position, the boss was asked if he would consider taking a risk by playing someone out of position in the backline.
“I don’t know if the word is risk. At the end, we have to make a decision because the circumstances require that.
“With Myles (playing out of position), it was a bit different. It was a choice because of what we saw and what we believed that he could do and what the team needed.”
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