GUNNER BE BACK
Arsenal get triple injury boost ahead of horror away run of fixtures with star man on verge of return
Arteta could hand a youngster his debut tonight
ARSENAL have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of a daunting run of four away games in a row.
The Gunners face Preston in the Carabao Cup tonight before heading up to Newcastle on Saturday, a place where they lost one of their five Premier League games last season.
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Mikel Arteta's side then have a tough trip to Inter Milan in the Champions League next Wednesday before a London derby against Chelsea on November 10.
Arsenal fans have been concerned they may be without key defensive pair Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber after both hobbled off in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
But Arteta gave a positive injury update and revealed captain Martin Odegaard is close to returning after an ankle issue.
The boss said: "We are still assessing Gabriel but it doesn't look bad at all.
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"He was much better the next day so hopefully he will be fine. He has had some tests.
"Jurrien is fine. He was very tired, he had been out for a while and could not continue the game. But there is no new injury there at all.
"He could not continue so we decided to make a very safe call. But he was fine."
On Odegaard, he added: "He's been on the grass for a few weeks, there is still a few boxes to tick.
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"How fast we can do that last stage of the rehab is a question we will have to answer once we have players around him and he starts competing with the team. He has not done that yet."
However, it is not all good news as Riccardo Calafiori is expected to be out for "a few weeks" after he went off holding his knee in the 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk last Tuesday.
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With David Raya set to be given the night off and Neto cup tied, 18-year-old keeper Tommy Setford could get his debut versus Preston.
Arteta said: "We brought Tommy because we know he's got the qualities we're looking for with our goalkeeping area.
"Unfortunately he's been injured so he has not really played.
"It's not a question about age, it is that if they play it is because they deserve to the same as the rest of the players.
"At the end of the day we have to reward the people who, each day, they behave in a certain manner and they have the level to play in the manner we want to play in.
"If that is the case, I don't care if they are players from the academy, youth players or seniors, they will play."
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Setford joined Arsenal from Ajax in the summer in a £1million deal.
In the previous round's win versus Bolton, Arteta started 16-year-old Jack Porter between the sticks.
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Arsenal ratings vs Liverpool
ARSENAL lost further ground in the title race with a 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Arne Slot's side are a top team, but it will still frustrate Mikel Arteta that his team couldn't clinch all three points having twice led the match.
Here's how SunSport's Jordan Davies rated the Arsenal players...
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
Very little he could do for Liverpool’s equaliser, forced to stay on his line from the flicked-on corner, and the same goes for Mohamed Salah’s tap in from a speedy counter.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 7
Kept Salah quiet for the majority and proved his worth with ball at feet, but starting him was clearly a risk as he hobbled off late on.
BEN WHITE – 7
He may have been at centre back but his telepathy with Saka remained, curling a peach of a ball over the top for the opener and remained solid even when those around him chopped and changed.
GABRIEL – 7
Missed his centre-back partner but did well until he worryingly limped off. No surprise that Salah and Darwin Nunez found space when he was absent.
THOMAS PARTEY – 8
Was targeted in his unnatural position within the first 30 seconds but held his ground for the most part. One of Arsenal’s best players.
MIKEL MERINO – 8
A stray touch gifted Salah a great chance to score before getting a bang to the same shoulder that kept him out at the start of the season. And then, after a so-so performance, he steps up with a thumping header just before the break to regain the lead.
DECLAN RICE – 8
Did the nitty-gritty very well in the middle of the pitch with some crucial interceptions and timely tackles. Carried on covering every blade of grass until the very last.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6
Drifted in and out of the game as a floating 10 and striker but got stuck in when needed and pressed like a rabid dog. Still, was quiet given his recent form.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Lively enough without creating too many clear-cut chances in the first half. Unlucky not to win a penalty after being hauled down by Ibrahima Konate.
BUKAYO SAKA – 9
Injury? What injury? His hamstring seemed right as rain as he cruised in behind Andy Robertson, cutting it back through the full-back’s legs and firing into the roof of the net.
Was understandably taken off in the second half with a need to protect him going into a hectic period of the season.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Given freedom to roam and drop deep. Missed a sitter in the box after Martinelli’s penalty shout but lacked the service via crosses to really be effective in the first half.
Remained a physical nuisance after the break but never had that one golden opportunity.
SUBS:
JAKUB KIWIOR (GABRIEL, 54) – 6
Impressive to come in out of the cold to stay firm, but again, his work with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (TIMBER, 76) – 6
Caught out of position for Liverpool's late leveller but showed signs of real maturity too.
GABRIEL JESUS (SAKA, 85) – N/A
ETHAN NWANERI (MARTINELLI, 85) – N/A
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