The trio withdrew from their respective international squads two weeks ago due to minor issues; Bukayo and Leandro faced hamstring problems, while William dealt with a big toe issue.
These uncertainties, combined with the absence of 14 players on international duty over the past 10 days, leave Mikel Arteta with selection challenges for the game against Chelsea. Although he has a tentative starting XI in mind for Stamford Bridge, he remains open to assessing everyone’s condition in the upcoming training session.
Arteta reflected on the situation, stating, ‘We haven’t had many players available. This is our first training session today, and we’ll have a clearer picture afterward. While I have an idea [of the starting XI], I need to see them together today, considering the extensive travel and playing time many have had. I want to determine what’s best not only tactically but also in terms of energy, mood, and spirit. I’ll have a better understanding after today’s session.’
Bukayo Saka missed his first Premier League game in 88 matches against Manchester City due to injury sustained in the Champions League almost three weeks ago. Despite the gap between matches, Arteta dismissed the notion that it benefited Saka significantly. He emphasized the player’s commitment to rehabilitation during this period.
Regarding Saka’s potential involvement against Chelsea, Arteta said, ‘I’m sure he wants to play. I don’t see any player who doesn’t want to be in the starting XI. He has worked hard to be fit, and we’ll assess his condition today. While he had some needed days off, it wasn’t a quiet period as he underwent treatment and training to be ready for Chelsea.
William Saliba has been struggling with a toe issue, and the international break was seen as an opportunity to address it. However, Arteta expressed uncertainty about his participation and hopes the problem does not persist. He noted, ‘He has been carrying that for weeks now, and we believe this was the best moment to address it.