Calafiori and Nwaneri return to the clash with Dinamo Zagreb, Saliba and Saka are still out
Arsenal will welcome back Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri for the Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb, but William Saliba and Bukayo Saka remain out.
Mikel Arteta confirmed the duo will be involved in Wednesday’s game at the Emirates after both missed the Gunners’ last three games in all competitions against Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa, with 17-year-old Nwaneri also injured for the 2- 0 in Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
“Very positive news. We missed them for a few weeks and today they returned to training. They will be available to play,” Arteta said of the returning pair.
The Spaniard also shared some positive news about the fitness of influential centre-back Saliba, who sat out Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Villa, but said tomorrow’s clash will come too soon.
Arteta added: “He is developing really well. He’s already felt a lot better in the last few days, but this game comes a little too soon for him.”
England striker Saka is also speeding up his return from a hamstring injury sustained against Crystal Palace on December 21.
“That will not change. I think it’s within the process and time. That phase is gone now.
“He’s doing really well. I’m feeling better day by day, but we have to respect the healing process, and then he has to go through other stages in rehabilitation.”
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Knockout qualifications on the cards
A draw with Villa, in which they surrendered a two-goal lead, saw Arsenal lose out further in the title race. The North Londoners are now six points behind Liverpool after playing a game more than the leaders.
But there were no such problems for Arteta’s men in Europe, with the third-placed side’s win on Wednesday securing their place in the last 16.
“So far we have been doing very well. We are in a strong position and now is the time to capitalize at home,” said Arteta about tomorrow’s clash and their campaign so far.
“The work we’ve done for many months, we need a strong game against a really good side and we’ll try to do that.”
Automatic qualification to the last 16 with a top-eight finish brings with it the added bonus of not taking part in a two-legged knockout tie, which could prove a suitable load-shedder as they continue to struggle in the league and Carabao Cup.
“We’re going to do what we have to do first, which is always difficult because we’re talking about the Champions League,” added Arteta. “If we can do that, we will obviously have the best ideas on the table to make the right decision.
“Yes, it was very helpful [a break last season] with the schedule we have for the last three months, you can take a break and reset a little bit, work on things and rest some people, but some people are back. That would be great.”
Arsenal transfer news
Arteta was asked about Arsenal’s January transfers as the window enters its final 10 days and the North Londoners are in the market to add a striker.
“I understand that it happens. A lot of people send me messages ‘you after him’ and this. I don’t even know what they’re talking about.
“I don’t follow it too much. I’m busy enough with a lot of things so it doesn’t bother me too much.”
