Arsenal hope Bruno Guimaraes will be available for their Premier League opener against Coventry on Friday night. The Brazilian came off at half-time in the Community Shield last weekend and was seen with an ice pack strapped to his right thigh. However, the issue is not believed to be a serious one and Mikel Arteta provided a positive update in his pre-match press conference.
Arteta's Update on Guimaraes
"Let's see how it is," Arteta said. "He's evolving really well, but let's see for tomorrow." Guimaraes' availability will likely have a big say on what role Declan Rice plays at the Emirates Stadium. Rice was given an extended break after the World Cup and has made just one appearance this summer since returning, playing the 45 minutes when replacing Guimaraes last weekend. If Guimaraes is fit, Arteta could be tempted to further ease Rice back into action and give him more minutes off the bench.
Defence and Attack Decisions
There is a similar decision to be made on the right wing, with Bukayo Saka also having had very limited playing time since joining back up with the squad. In defence, Ezri Konsa's move to Arsenal is not expected to be completed in time for him to make the squad, meaning Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera are likely to continue on the right side of defence. Christos Tzolis' performances this summer have made him the clear first-choice at left wing and Kai Havertz will also expect to keep his place.
Injury List and Predicted Lineup
Arsenal are still without Jurrien Timber and William Saliba. Timber is yet to return to first-team training and is still weeks away from returning. It is likely to be months until Saliba is available after a long-term back injury. Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz.
Injured: Timber, Saliba. Doubt: Guimaraes. Time and date: 8pm BST on Friday, August 21, 2026. How to watch: Sky Sports. Venue: Emirates Stadium.
