Gunners manager Mikel Arteta don drop update on him players wey dey injured as Arsenal prepare for one big week wey fit define their season. The matter dey serious, as key players like Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Jurrien Timber no show for open training session on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP.
Arteta talk say dem go wait till Wednesday morning to see how some of the boys dey before making final decision. When dem ask am about Rice, the gaffer yarn say: “We have to wait and see how he is tomorrow, but obviously he wasn’t available to train.” The England international don play plenty games recently, and that na part of the wahala. But Arteta insist say Rice go try everything possible to make am for the match.
For Saka and Timber matter, the news no too sweet. Saka no play for Arsenal since international break, and Timber come off during 2-0 win over Everton last month. Arteta talk say maybe one of them fit play against Sporting, but e no sure. On Saka injury, e reveal say na Achilles issue wey the boy don dey carry for some time.
Other players wey miss training na captain Martin Odegaard and defender Riccardo Calafiori. The four players wey no train on Tuesday all miss Saturday’s Premier League loss to Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie wey only dey bench against Bournemouth show face for training.
This injury wahala come at worst time for Arsenal. Dem lead Sporting CP 1-0 from first leg thanks to Kai Havertz late winner in Lisbon. Now dem want reach back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for first time in their history. But Arteta know say e go hard to beat the Portuguese champions.
The manager talk say: “I think they’re always trying to be a team that is very dominant, through the press, through the ball. The longer that the game goes, in relation to the context of the game, they can approach and answer that like they’ve done in the league.”
But Champions League no be the only thing for Arsenal mind. On Sunday, dem go face Manchester City for Premier League title race wey dey hot. Arsenal lead City by six points, but Pep Guardiola side get one game at hand. This week fit make or break Arsenal season.
Arteta talk with fire when dem ask am about message to players and supporters. “No fear, pure fire. That’s it,” e yarn. “Pure fire, that’s what I want to see from the players, the people, myself. The opportunity is unbelievable. Let’s confront it, let’s go for it and put everything into it.”
When dem ask am about nerves, Arteta reply: “Fire. I’m on fire. That’s it. Nothing else. I’m driven so much. I have done so much to be in this position. I know how this club was. This is beauty. I see beauty and opportunity. I want to get it done for all the people on the journey with us.”
Arsenal recent form don cause concern. From hope of winning four trophies, dem now remain with only two chances. Dem lose to Manchester City for Carabao Cup final, Championship side Southampton for FA Cup quarter-final, and Bournemouth for league on Saturday.
Eberechi Eze talk say Arteta passion dey spread throughout the club. “The boss speaks well, he is passionate, and you can see the fire he has in his eyes and mind, and that has been pushed throughout the whole club,” the forward yarn. “Regardless of what people are saying outside, it is about us and what we do, and that is all that matters.”
Now all eyes dey on Emirates Stadium for Wednesday night. Arsenal need finish the work against Sporting CP with injury-hit squad. If Rice no fit play, problem go plenty because Mikel Merino wey be him backup dey injured too. Christian Norgaard, Leandro Trossard, or Myles Lewis-Skelly fit try fill the gap, but e no go easy.
Arteta remain hopeful about Saka recovery. “No setback, there is progression,” e talk. “Hopefully, it’s a matter of days and not weeks.” For now, Arsenal fans dey wait with bated breath as their team face biggest week in years with key players wey dey injured.
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