As Arsenal prepares for their next Premier League clash against West Ham, manager Mikel Arteta remains hopeful about welcoming back some key players into the squad. Despite recent setbacks, Arteta expressed optimism during his Friday press conference, noting that several players are progressing well and could feature in Sunday’s match.
However, one notable absence is midfielder Thomas Partey, who is expected to miss out for a third consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. Although Partey has been participating in full training sessions, he has not yet been deemed fit to play.
On the positive side, England international Bukayo Saka, who was withdrawn from the last game due to a collision, is expected to be fit for the upcoming match. Additionally, Takehiro Tomiyasu, who returned from international duty with Japan, should also be available for selection.
Despite these potential returns, Arsenal faces uncertainty with other key players. Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was substituted at halftime against Liverpool due to a calf issue, remains sidelined with an unknown return date. Similarly, Gabriel Jesus, who missed the Liverpool match due to a knee problem, is also uncertain to feature against West Ham.
Meanwhile, the Gunners continue to monitor the progress of injured players such as Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira. Timber, who has been recovering from a knee injury, is still far from competing, while Vieira underwent groin surgery and is expected to be out for several weeks.
As Arsenal navigates through these injury concerns, Arteta remains focused on fielding a competitive squad against West Ham. With the return of some players and the ongoing rehabilitation of others, the team aims to secure a positive result and maintain their position in the Premier League standings.