Arsenal handed much-needed double injury boost despite William Saliba blow
Arsenal have struggled with injuries in recent weeks but Mikel Arteta received a boost ahead of facing Dinam Zagreb in the Champions League and welcomed two stars back to training
by Scott Trotter · The MirrorMikel Arteta was able to call upon Ethan Nwaneri and Riccardo Calafiori for training ahead of Arsenal's champions League clash against Dinamo Zagreb.
But star defender William Saliba was not present on the Sobha Realty Training Centre pitches on Tuesday after picking up an injury against Tottenham. Arteta was concerned over Saliba's fitness after the Frenchman was forced off the field last week before missing the match against Aston Villa.
The 23-year-old has formed a crucial part of the north London side's backline in recent seasons and his absence will comes as a blow as the Gunners look to maintain their competitiveness this season. Saliba is expected to be out of action for around two weeks.
That could see Saliba struggling to prove his fitness for games against Wolves and Girona, but Arteta is confident that the defender will be back in time to face Manchester City on February 2, with Arteta saying on Tuesday: "He's evolving really well. But tomorrow will come too early."
Calafiori returns after missing Arsenal’s last three matches due to injury, having struggled for fitness across much of the season since arriving at the Emirates in the summer. The Italian will be in contention to face Dinamo on Wednesday following his return.
Nwaneri meanwhile has been missing since picking up a muscle injury against Brighton earlier this month. The youngster had emerged as a regular in Arteta's plans amid the side's injury issues before being stopped in his tracks against the Seagulls. Fellow teen star Max Dowman, 15, was also involved with the senior squad's training session.
"We missed them for a few weeks and they returned today for training and they'll be available for the game," said Arteta.
The additions of Nwaneri and Calafiori to his options will be welcome news for Arteta, who lamented his shortage of options following the Gunners' draw against Aston Villa this past weekend. The Spaniard contrasted the options Unai Emery was able to call upon, and Liverpool's against Brentford, in contrast to his own.
"They managed to do that [win late at Brentford], they made the subs, they made the impact & changed the game," he said. "In our side it was the opposite.
"After conceding the two Villa goals very close to each other, I knew the team could go downhill because we were physically drained but suddenly they found another gear to go again."
"I think when you look at the performances, I don't know how many teams are playing at this level in the league," Arteta added. "When you look at the bench you probably say, look at the bench, we are very, very short."
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