Arteta Gives Positive Update On Injured Timber, Gabriel

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given positive update on defensive duo Gabriel and Julien Timber.

Both players went off with knocks in last Sunday’s clash with Liverpool at the Emirates which ended 2-2.

The Gunners are already without Martin Odegaard, Kieran Tienny and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injury.

Speaking in Tuesday’s presser ahead of today’s (Wednesday) Carabao Cup trip to Preston, Arteta said Gabriel and Timber only suffered minor knocks.

“We are still assessing Gabriel. It doesn’t look bad at all,” Arteta was quoted on Arsenal News Central.

“It was much better the next day. Hopefully he’ll be fine. He has done some tests. Jurrien was fine. He was very tired. He’s been out for a while and he could not continue the game. Not a new injury there at all.

“We have four very demanding matches now in all different competitions and we want to win them all. We have to start tomorrow to create good momentum again and we’ll put a strong team out there.”

Meanwhile, Daily Mail on Tuesday reported that Odegaard is expected to return to training on grass this week, following an ankle ligament injury sustained while on international duty with Norway in September.

Odegaard’s return could not come at a better time, with Arsenal preparing for a tough run of fixtures against Newcastle, Inter Milan, and Chelsea.

While there is still some uncertainty over when Odegaard will be fit enough for selection, the midfielder’s recovery will be closely watched by both Arsenal and the Norwegian national team, as Norway manager Stale Solbakken has expressed hope of including him in the squad for the upcoming international break.