Arsenal will make a late decision regarding Alexandre Lacazette and Takehiro Tomiyasu for Wednesday night's Premier League clash against Chelsea, Mikel Arteta has revealed.
Both players missed Saturday's 1-0 loss against Southampton for differing reasons, although the latter has been out of action since the end of January with a troublesome calf injury. With regards to the former, he tested positive for Covid-19 last week which ruled him out of the trip to St Mary's.
Expected to be present for Arsenal's final training session ahead of the London derby, Arteta has revealed that necessary checks will be made on Lacazette to determine whether or not he can be named in the matchday squad as the visitors aim to end a run of three straight defeats.
READ MORE: Arsenal press conference LIVE: Arteta discusses Chelsea, top four race, Lacazette and Tomiyasu
"With Lacazette, we have to see him today to see whether he will be available with the team," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. "Obviously as you all know, he had Covid, so he has been away for a few days." We will try to get his feeling and where he's and if he can somehow contribute to the team.
Meanwhile, the Spaniard also had some positive news regarding Tomiyasu and revealed when a decision will be made regarding a return to the matchday squad for the Arsenal right-back: "Tomi is very, very close," Arteta added. "Whether this game is going to be too early for him or not, again we will decide it today after the training session."
Should Lacazette be passed fit, it will leave Arteta needing to make a decision in attack. Eddie Nketiah impressed, albeit without scoring - against the Saints on what was his first Premier League start of the season, but he could make way if the Frenchman is chosen in the starting XI.
It's a little less straightforward for Tomiyasu as Cedric Soares has largely performed well at right-back in the Japan international's absence and this factor does allow the £18m signing from Bologna last summer to be eased into action as the Gunners aim to avoid losing him for another lengthy period.
