Mikel Arteta has delivered Arsenal injury updates on Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard before the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz injury boosts. Both players missed the 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday with minor issues but Arteta has revealed that they will be in the squad to face Atletico Madrid in a Champions League semi-final.
Jurrien Timber was also absent for the visit of the Cottagers with an injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-March. The Gunners head coach delivered a hopeful update last month but Timber is set to remain unavailable.
Bukayo Saka was substituted at half-time of the Fulham game but Arteta later confirmed that decision was made in order to manage his minutes. Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice were others taken off early, likely with the Atletico clash in mind.
If Arsenal advance to the Champions League final, that could become the targeted return date for Mikel Merino. He has missed the last three months after undergoing surgery on a foot issue.
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With all of that being said, football.london has taken a look at the updates on Arsenal’s injured stars and when they could return.
Kai Havertz
Havertz was taken off against Newcastle roughly 10 days ago, which saw him miss two matches. However, Arteta has confirmed he is back available.
What Arteta has said: “Yeah they are available, both in the squad. Great [to have them back], because we need options, we need the capacity to play different games tomorrow, whether it’s from the start or after. So it’s really, really good news for us to have them both back.”
Potential return date: Atletico Madrid (H) – Tuesday, May 5.
Martin Odegaard
Odegaard has been plagued by injury with his latest issue picked up in the first leg. He missed the Fulham game but is set to return on Tuesday against Atletico.
What Arteta has said: “Yeah they are available, both in the squad. Great [to have them back], because we need options, we need the capacity to play different games tomorrow, whether it’s from the start or after. So it’s really, really good news for us to have them both back.”
Potential return date: Atletico Madrid (H) – Tuesday, May 5.
Jurrien Timber
It is currently unclear if Timber will play again this season with Arteta’s update last week offering minimal clarity.
What Arteta has said: “We don’t know yet, he’s doing some stuff on the pitch at the moment but we need to get the gears up and be able to do more things before he can compete with us.
Potential return date: N/A.
Mikel Merino
Merino remains sidelined after undergoing an operation on a fractured foot.
What Arteta has said: “He’s another one that is going to push every boundary. He’s out of his boot now. He’s doing quite a lot of exercises already. He’s reacted really well to the surgery. He’s got no pain… I’m sure there is a chance to make that period shorter.”
Potential return date: Late May.
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Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals where they host Atlético Madrid in the second leg on May 5. Fans can watch the game for free with an Amazon Prime subscription or 30-day trial.
