Mikel Arteta has provided a squad update ahead of Arsenal's clash with FC Zurich in their opening Europa League Group A fixture. After their first loss of the season at the hands of Manchester United, the Gunners now travel to Switzerland, hoping they can bounce back quickly to get off to an ideal start in their return to Europe.
Cedric Soares is missing from the backline, while Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny both miss out in the middle of the park. Reiss Nelson is also sidelined, while Emile Smith Rowe is set to be excluded after he appeared to pull up in the warm down following the loss at Old Trafford.
Discussing the injury for Smith Rowe, he said in his pre-match press conference: "He felt some discomfort again in an area that he’s been dealing with now for a few weeks. He hasn’t trained in the last few days so he’s out of the squad."
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The injury marks a stop-start beginning to the season for the academy graduate, who suffered in the early stages of the campaign with a problem that carried over from pre-season. The 22-year-old has managed four substitute appearances so far, managing just 45 minutes in total across those games.
With the hope that he could make a return to the first-team from the beginning soon, the England international managed 16 minutes from the bench against Manchester United. However, it was the warm down after where he felt the problem and will now be missing the clash in Switzerland.
It comes as a blow for an already thin Arsenal squad, with key men yet to get a rest as well as missing an opportunity for Smith Rowe to regain some match fitness. It means Gabriel Martinelli could start on the left, with Arteta claiming he will see if he will be involved.
"We just try to see where the players are at in the team and when it’s fair to certain players to demand what is going to be exposed." Arteta said when asked about the Brazilian starting against FC Zurich.
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