Arsenal recorded a vital 4-2 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening. Hale End academy graduates Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe all netted for the Gunners, who are now level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with just six games left to secure a place in next season's UEFA Champions League. Arsenal will welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium next, a game that United will be desperate to win following a bitterly disappointing 4-0 loss to Liverpool on Tuesday night.
Ahead of Saturday's highly-anticipated clash, football.london takes a look at the look at the latest injury news for Mikel Arteta's squad.
Read more: Arsenal's final six Premier League fixtures compared to Tottenham, Man United and West Ham
Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette was on the bench at Stamford Bridge after testing positive with Covid-19 last week but he came on during the latter stages of the game. The Frenchman will be fully fit to play the Red Devils on Saturday afternoon but a start seems unlikely given Nketiah's brace against the Blues.
What the Arteta has said: "Laca is available for a few minutes. He hasn’t done any training, he’s available for 10 minutes. After COVID he’s feeling unwell but wanted to be here for the team."
Expected return date: Manchester United (H) - Saturday, April 23
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Another that is going to be subject to a late decision is Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu. The former Bologna man has been struggling with persistent calf issues but could be set to appear this Saturday after he was spotted in training at the club's London Colney base.
What Arteta has said: "Tomiyasu is very, very close. We will decide today after the training session [if he'll make the squad]."
Expected return date: Manchester United (H) - Saturday, April 23
Kieran Tierney
Scotland international Tierney is expected to be out of action for the rest of the season having undergone surgery for a serious knee injury.
What Arteta has said: "The feeling that he had wasn’t positive and what the scans showed either. But we have to wait and see what happens."
Expected return date: Summer 2022.
Thomas Partey
Partey was withdrawn at Selhurst Park with a thigh injury and Arteta's latest comments suggest that the Ghanaian international could be ruled out of action for the rest of the season.
What Arteta has said: "Yes, the news that we got after a lot of assessments is not great. It’s not looking very positive for his availability this season, but we’ll have to wait and see because he’s trying to get back as quickly as possible, but at the moment we are not very optimistic about it."
Expected return date: Unknown.
