Arsenal trio ‘close’ to returning, Arteta says | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber are close to returning from injury, though Odegaard will not be available for the Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Odegaard continues to recover from an ankle injury, while Saka missed the defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday because of a hamstring problem.

But Arteta says Saka could return to face Shakhtar on Tuesday.

“They are closer and they’re both progressing really well,” he said.

“Martin is still not fit. With Bukayo, let’s see how he feels today and the transition that we have later on.”

Jurrien Timber also missed the defeat to Bournemouth with a muscular injury but Arteta is hoping to see him back soon.

“I think he’s going to be close obviously,” he said.

“We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group because he hasn’t done that yet but he will be pretty close hopefully.”

Arsenal went down to ten men for the third time this season in the loss to Bournemouth after William Saliba was sent off, and Arteta wants his side to improve their disciplinary record.

“I think we are already aligned. We cannot continue to play with 10 men, that’s fine.

“It’s easier to say than to get it done because there are very specific moments that have produced that situation. But it’s that, it’s reacting. You have a defeat, it’s part of the game, it’s part of the sport. It happened in very specific conditions as well.

“Let’s move on, take that pain that we still have in that tummy, use it for tomorrow night.”

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