Arsenal have received a double fitness boost ahead of their match against Southampton on Sunday as both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to be fit.
Martinelli has been struggling this week with illness, and calf knock picked up in the win over Leeds, and he has not been feeling 100 per cent.
The Brazilian duly missed training on Wednesday afternoon, but he was able to come off the bench as Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.
Saka started that game but he was forced to limp off five minutes towards the end after taking a kick to his calf.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, however, believes both Martinelli and Saka will be fit for Sunday’s trip to Southampton.
“I think he (Saka) is fine,” said Arteta. “He was struggling a bit at the end but hopefully he’ll be fine for Sunday.
“He (Martinelli) had a tough week. He wasn’t feeling great in the week. But in the day before the game he was already feeling better so that’s why we decided to play him a little bit.”
Arteta also gave a positive update on the fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has not played since the start of October due to a calf problem.
It is unclear if the left-back will return this weekend at Southampton, however he should be back before the World Cup.
“I think he’s close,” said Arteta. “He’s getting better and better and he’s progressing really well. He had a set back on an injury that he got at the start of the season which is a shame, but knowing Alex he will be back very soon.”
