2 in, 2 out: Arsenal injury updates ahead of Atalanta clash | OneFootball

Arsenal have received a couple of injury boosts in training ahead of Thursday’s match against Atalanta, though Martin Odegaard still isn’t involved.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal acknowledges the fans after the teams victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on August 24, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsenal held an open training session in front of the media on Wednesday, with Simon Collings of The Standard revealing the good news that both Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka were involved.

Calafiori had missed out on Arsenal’s north London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur with an injury he picked up over the international break, and Saka was forced off during the derby.

Reports had already confirmed that Saka was only substituted with cramp, so there was always a good chance he would be back available in midweek. His return to training is just further confirmation that it was nothing serious.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal applauds the fans following the team’s victory during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2024. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

It wasn’t all positive news though, with Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko both absent from the session. Neither player was available on Sunday, and it seems they aren’t about to return to the action on Thursday.

Mikel Merino, Kieran Tierney, and Takehiro Tomiyasu also remain absent through injury.

Arsenal will soon jet off to Italy for their Champions League clash against Atalanta, their opening game of the new League Phase format.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 15, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Given all the absentees, a few youth players should get a chance to join the squad on Thursday, with Ethan Nwaneri likely the favourite to get minutes.

Other potential call-ups include Tommy Setford, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ayden Heaven, all of whom were pictured in Arsenal’s first-team photo this week.