Mikel Arteta provides triple Arsenal injury update ahead of Brighton clash | OneFootball

Arsenal Fitness Update Ahead of Brighton Clash

Arsenal head to Brighton on Saturday with a familiar problem, availability at the back. Mikel Arteta has three defenders in doubt, and he is not pretending the decision has already been made.

Ben White, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera all missed the midweek cup tie against Ipswich, and all three remain under assessment before the trip to the Amex Stadium. Arsenal want a seventh straight win to open the season, but selection may come down to risk management rather than ambition.

White, Hincapie and Mosquera under review

White was taken off at half-time against Sunderland last weekend with a groin issue. That sort of problem can be minor, until it is not. With Jurrien Timber expected to be available, there is an obvious argument for caution rather than forcing White through another match before the international break.

Hincapie’s absence in midweek was described as “fatigue”, which usually means there is concern, even if it is not a full injury. Mosquera is in the same group, fit enough to be considered, not fit enough to be cleared without another look.

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Arteta waiting on final training session

Arteta kept it simple when addressing the situation. “We have another training session this afternoon. Really positive about everybody.

“They’re all willing to be part of it, we have another session to try to make sure that they are fit.”

That is the reality of it. Arsenal will train, the staff will assess reactions, and only then will the final call be made.

Brighton test comes before international break

The timing matters. This is the final game before the international break, which always changes the calculation. If a player is borderline, managers often prefer not to gamble. Arteta has enough reason to be careful, particularly in defence, where one setback can quickly become two or three.

Arsenal still have quality, and they still have momentum. The question is whether they go to Brighton at full strength, or with a patched-up back line and a few compromises.