Injury updates on 4 Arsenal stars for Shakhtar clash | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has given fitness updates on Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, and Gabriel Martinelli ahead of Arsenal’s game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Ahead of a Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk and a big Premier League match against Liverpool this week, Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of a few of their key players.

Among the list are Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, and Mikel Arteta suggests that whilst both are progressing well, only one has a chance to feature on Tuesday.

“They are closer. They are both progressing really well,” Arteta said.

“Martin is still not fit. Let’s see how Bukayo is after the training session later on.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring his goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Jurrien Timber also missed Arsenal’s game against Bournemouth at the weekend, but the good news is that he’s at least in contention to return against Shakhtar.

“He’s going to be close,” Arteta said of Timber. “We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group. It was a muscular injury.”

As for Gabriel Martinelli, after pulling out of the international break, the winger made a substitute appearance for Arsenal on Saturday.

Arteta has now confirmed that the player “wasn’t fit enough to start the game”. Hopefully, Tuesday is a different story.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 15, 2024. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Loan goalkeeper Neto will return to the squad after being ineligible against parent club Bournemouth, whilst William Saliba will be available despite his red card at the weekend, as he’ll serve his suspension domestically against Liverpool.