Arsenal boss Arteta on duo’s fitness and Nwaneri’s exit | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says a final decision is yet to be made on Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie’s availability for the game against Manchester Utd.

The pair returned to full training this week, with Calafiori having been out for over a month with a muscle injury, while Hincapie has been sidelined since the 0-0 draw with Liverpool earlier this month with a hamstring problem.

“We have another training session. We will see tomorrow after that,” Arteta said.

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Arteta also confirmed there were no fresh injury concerns following Arsenal’s 3-1 win away against Inter on Tuesday evening.

With close to a clean bill of health, Arsenal now have greater flexibility in attack, with Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus offering competition for places.

“We were waiting for that with the amount of games that are coming up, and they are all going to have opportunities and minutes, so great to have them back and especially to have them in good form,” he said.

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On the transfer front, Arteta explained that the positive experience of sending William Saliba on loan, along with the presence of former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, were key factors behind the decision to send Ethan Nwaneri on loan to Olympique Marseille.

Marseille currently sit third in Ligue 1 and are also battling for a Champions League play-off place, offering Nwaneri an ideal opportunity for regular minutes and development.

The 18-year-old has joined the French club on a six-month loan deal, having made just six Premier League appearances this season, all as a substitute.

“The deal is quite close and we constantly have to monitor them,” Arteta said. “I think the talented players need to have minutes, and Ethan in this case wasn’t having enough minutes.

“The last thing I want to do is cut his development because he is such a talent and someone that loves and breathes football.

“That’s his life, and after having a discussion with him, his father and his agent, we decided the best thing to do is leave and go on loan and then we have to pick the right place,” he continued. 

“Understanding the experience we had there with Willy [Saliba] and Roberto [De Zerbi] is there, and he is a really courageous manager in the way he plays and with the way he plays with young talent as well, and I think he fits the way they play with the qualities we want to see with Ethan.”