Oleksandr Zinchenko returns for Arsenal in tonight’s Premier Legue clash with Arsenal.
Granit Xhaka, however, missed out due to illness.
The Ukraine international has been back in training this week after missing Sunday’s dramatic 2-2 London derby draw at West Ham with a groin issue.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ARSENAL VS SOUTHAMPTON LIVE!
“We will see with that one. It’s not certain,” he said on Thursday. “It’s a muscular injury and it needs some time to heal, and we are not there yet.”
Arsenal will definitely be without William Saliba again tonight as the centre-back is still struggling with a back injury picked up against Sporting Lisbon last month. It means Rob Holding is expected to keep his place in the heart of defence.
“Regarding William, we still have to wait a little bit more,” said Arteta. “He is not progressing as quick as we hoped.
“It’s a bit delicate and we want to be very certain when we push him that he is ready to absorb the load and the risk that we will take, and at the moment that’s not possible to do.”
Asked if he feared that Saliba could miss the rest of the season, Arteta said: “I don’t know, it’s a bit early to do [predictions]. Probably next week we are going to have more certainty.
“There is some evolution, he is doing more activity, but he is not there yet to start to throw him on the pitch at the level that the sessions demand to compete in this League.”
Midfielder Mohamed Elneny and versatile defender Takehiro Tomiyasu both remain out for Arsenal and won’t play again this season.
Arsenal starting XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Partey, Vieira, Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli
Friday 8pm BST, Sky Sports
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Simon Hooper
Arsenal squad from: Hein, Ramsdale, Turner; Gabriel, Holding, Kiwior, Tierney, White, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Saka, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Vieira, Xhaka; Jesus, Martinelli, Nelson and Nketiah.
Injured: Elneny (knee), Saliba (back), Tomiyasu (knee)
Doubt: Zinchenko (groin)
