ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta has several players likely to miss tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth but he is not unduly worried.
The Gunners have been in good form this season and are just four points off top spot but they have a rash of injuries to deal with.
Arteta revealed today during his pre-match press conference that £105 million midfielder Declan Rice, forwards Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka, as well as defender William Saliba could all miss the game with varying degrees of injuries.
The Spaniard said all the mentioned players had not trained as at this morning and were unlikely to be fit enough for tomorrow.
However, Arteta said his team, yet to be beaten this season in all competitions, were in a confident mood.
“Playing every three days and having to win and compete in different competitions, that is the challenge and we are up for it,” the former Arsenal and Everton midfielder said.
“It’s a huge thing and it is the individual one and the collective one. That confidence transmits to each other.
“Playing well and winning matches is the best thing to do. We are in a good moment.”
Arteta knew Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola from their days together at youth club Antiguoko and the Arsenal boss spoke highly of his fellow Spaniard.
“We know each other really well. We have played together. We are privileged to be raised there [in the Basque region] and be educated there. That’s the beauty of football that now we are both managing in the Premier League,” he explained.
“He was better technically than everybody else. He was a winger and then as he got older he played full-back. He would be a dream inverted full-back for any manager!
“He was really excited to come and really supportive of the players and staff and coming to the Premier League.”
While Arsenal are looking to catch up with Manchester City in the top end of the Premier League table, Bournemouth are in an early battle for survival with just three points from their first six games.
On Kai Havertz who is yet to find his best form since joining Arsenal from Chelsea in the summer, Arteta said: “We’re trying to help him as much as possible. Give him confidence and minutes to exploit his talent.
“There are so many parts of his game that he’s doing exceptionally well and others that need to keep improving, we are with him.”
