Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a concerning update on his squad's fitness, hinting that key defender William Saliba could miss the upcoming Premier League fixture against Brentford.
Saliba and Trossard Face Race Against Time
The French centre-back, who is pivotal to the Gunners' defensive solidity, missed the 1-1 draw at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge after picking up a knock in training. When pressed for an update ahead of Wednesday's match, Arteta remained cautious. "I'm not going to be able to help you much today, as we have another training session," the manager stated. "He's had a little niggle, but I think it will be a matter of days."
In a further setback, forward Leandro Trossard is also a major doubt for the visit of the Bees. The Belgian international was forced off in the first half of the Champions League victory over Bayern Munich with a calf problem. After undergoing further scans on Friday, Arteta's prognosis was similarly vague, indicating Trossard's return is also "a matter of days."
Longer-Term Absences for Havertz and Gabriel
The news is more definitive for two other first-team players. Summer signing Kai Havertz, who underwent minor knee surgery in August, is still some way from a return. Arteta confirmed the German forward's availability is now "a matter of weeks," dashing earlier faint hopes he might be fit to face his former club Chelsea.
Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães, currently sidelined with a thigh injury, is on a similar recovery timeline. "He is doing very well, but that is also weeks," Arteta added, clarifying that the defender will not be featuring in the immediate future.
Implications for Arsenal's Busy Schedule
These injury concerns come at a critical juncture in Arsenal's season. The potential absence of Saliba, in particular, would be a significant blow to a defence that has looked far more vulnerable without him in the past. His partnership with Gabriel has been a cornerstone of the team's success.
With a congested fixture list across multiple competitions, Arteta will be hoping the issues for Saliba and Trossard are indeed minor and that they can return swiftly. The manager's updates, while hopeful, leave considerable uncertainty hanging over his team selection for the Brentford match as Arsenal look to maintain their momentum in the title race.
