Arsenal have released training pictures from Thursday’s session at London Colney as the Premier League leaders and Champions League finalists prepare for Monday’s visit of Burnley
Arsenal are ramping up preparations for Monday’s final Premier League home game of the season as Burnley visit the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have had a full week to prepare for the contest and the crux of the squad were handed several days’ rest following last Sunday’s crucial victory at relegation-threatened West Ham.
It appears Mikel Arteta is still protecting a number of key stars, however, as three notable players were absent from Thursday’s session on the grass.
Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and captain Martin Odegaard were not involved, though it’s understood they were all inside doing gym work.
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Odegaard was pictured in the club’s training gallery working away indoors following his decisive cameo from the bench at the London Stadium.
Kepa Arrizabalaga wasn’t spotted in the pictures either but that isn’t uncommon as Arsenal’s goalkeepers usually conduct the bulk of their training away from the main group.
The other absentees were largely expected: Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Ben White, who picked up a serious knee injury last weekend that ended his season prematurely.
A number of youngsters were involved in training including young midfielder Louie Copley, who just helped Crawley Town avoid relegation from League Two to the National League.
Instead of finishing for summer, it seems Copley will be involved in first-team training where required as he looks to gain some valuable experience.
Marli Salmon and Ife Ibrahim were also present to help bolster the numbers and Salmon is expected to remain involved with the first-team for the remainder of the season.
In more positive news, Riccardo Calafiori was able to train after he was forced off at half-time at West Ham with an injury problem.
Arteta declared in his press conference before the session that he did not know whether the Italian would be ready to train.
The Spaniard also revealed Arsenal were working to get Timber back in time to feature in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain: “We’re going to try to get him available as quickly as possible but he’s obviously been out now for a while, unfortunately.
“He’s such an important player for us. We all know that. He’s doing everything that he possibly can to help the team in any capacity. His leadership, his quality and how much the team needs him.
“There is a chance. But how big that chance is, I cannot tell you. I’m being completely honest. He’s going to try to do everything he can to convert that chance as high as possible in the shortest possible period.”
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