Arsenal hand a first start of the season to Albert Sambi Lokonga against Aston Villa in the Premier League tonight.
The high-flying Gunners are light on midfield options as Oleksandr Zinchenko and Thomas Partey are still struggling for fitness and missed Saturday’s win over Fulham. Mohamed Elneny is also out with a hamstring injury.
Partey is struggling with a thigh issue and Zinchenko has a knee problem, with Arsenal having to assess both players in the week.
Partey’s injury is similar to the one that forced him to miss the last six weeks of last season, although Arteta says it is “hopefully” not as severe.
Zinchenko, meanwhile, was at Emirates Stadium on Saturday wearing a knee brace and there was some optimism he could be in the squad against Villa this evening.
team news, lineups, TV, prediction today">CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ARSENAL VS ASTON VILLA LIVE!
Asked at the weekend if Partey or Zinchenko had a chance of playing against Villa, Arteta said: “I don’t think so. We still have to make another scan, especially on Thomas but I don’t think they will be available.
“Let’s see [if it is long or short term]. I cannot see yet.”
Asked if Partey’s injury was similar to last season, Arteta added: “Similar area, hopefully not as bad.”
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Lokonga, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Turner, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Holding, Smith, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Marquinhos, Nketiah.
Wednesday 7.30pm BST, BT Sport
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Robert Jones
Arsenal squad from: Hein, Ramsdale, Turner; Bellerin, Cedric, Gabriel, Holding, Mari, Saliba, Tierney, Tomiyasu, White; Lokonga, Maitland-Niles, Odegaard, Saka, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Xhaka; Jesus, Martinelli, Marquinhos and Nketiah.
Injured: Elneny (hamstring), Nelson (thigh), Partey (thigh)
Doubt: Zinchenko (knee)
