Arteta delivers Arsenal injury updates ahead of Southampton | OneFootball

Most of the talk over the international break has centred around the number of Arsenal players who withdrew from international duty, so, as Mikel Arteta met with the press ahead of the game against Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final, let’s see who is and isn’t available.

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Mikel Arteta is likely to make a number of changes to his starting XI for this FA Cup game against Southampton, so some of the players who might not be available this weekend should, miraculously, return for Tuesday’s game in Lisbon against Sporting.

Heading off the narrative, Arteta said when asked about the withdrawals, “I think when a player is fit and available, they have to play, and I think it makes us so proud that we have that many players in the national team,” he said. “The players are desperate to play with the national team, and we know how important every time that they are together and the time that they spend in preparation means to them. We are fully supportive of that, and when we can do it, we do it.”

That should be an end to it all, but we know it won’t be.

Asked specifically about the England withdrawals of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice he said, “we have very good relationships with most of the national teams. Especially with Thomas [Tuchel] and when you have to communicate the state of every player, that was clear what the conclusion was.”

Arsenal players – out

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

Mikel Merino, as we know, is out for the season.

Eberechi Eze has a calf problem he picked up against Bayer Leverkusen. He has already missed the game against Manchester City in the League Cup final and will miss this one as well. “Ebs is out,” Arteta said. “With Ebs, I cannot put a finger [on a return date] because he is a special character.”

Noni Madueke, meanwhile, picked up a knee injury while playing for England. Seen in a knee brace after the game, he was initially set to miss a couple of weeks.

“It looked really bad and Noni was really worried, especially with what happened to his other knee and he was out for six weeks” Arteta said.

“But no, it is nowhere near that injury and that is good news.” Arteta is expecting him back in time for Sporting on Tuesday.

Piero Hincapie, who withdrew from international duty with muscular discomfort, has also been ruled out and could be facing a longer spell on the sidelines with Arteta saying it could be more serious than first thought.

Arsenal players – doubts

Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images

Martin Odegaard was close to being involved at Wembley and it was hoped he would be available for the game against the Saints. Along with Jurrien Timber, who also missed the final, both “are in contention to be in the squad.”

Updates to come

William Saliba, who has struggled with ankle problems all season, and Gabriel (knee), who withdrew from the Brazil squad, should be OK, but we are waiting on updates on them along with; Leandro Trossard (hip), Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Martin Zumbimendi.

With regards to the Saliba, Gabriel and Trossard, our information is that they would be OK after the international break.

It was said that Saliba needed a 10-day rest to deal with his ankle issue, while Trossard declined a call-up to allow his hip problem to settle.

Asked about all these players at his press conference, Arteta said, “We will see.

“I continue the speculation so you can do it, and you can judge it afterwards. If what I said was right or do I have to maybe change and delete and write something else?

“We are in a position right now that we are going to make the strongest line-ups and decisions that we possibly can to win every competition. We are two or three games away in the FA Cup, and now we know how important that competition is for us.”