Mikel Arteta led the final training session ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with PSV Eindhoven. The Gunners are set to play their second home Europa League tie against the Dutch side.
Arsenal will play their fourth Europa League game of the season in what should have been their second match, but the planned previous encounter against PSV was cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This fixture has now been moved to Thursday, October 20 instead.
After the victory against Leeds United in the Premier League on the weekend, it is important that Arsenal maintain their momentum and the match against PSV creates an excellent opportunity to do so. football.london rounds up all the things that were spotted at the Gunners' open training session on Wednesday afternoon.
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Martinelli misses training
Gabriel Martinelli missed Arsenal training on Wednesday ahead of the Gunners' next home Europa League group stage match against PSV Eindhoven, football.london understands.
The Brazilian missed the training session with his senior teammates. Martinelli started the game against Leeds United and completed the whole match without substitution.
White and Holding lead once again
After Arteta, the first player to lead the side out was Rob Holding. Holding, despite not being named as a deputy captain with Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Jesus, is considered one of the key leaders in the dressing room and has worn the armband in the past.
Similar to previous home final Europa League training sessions against FK Bodo/Glimt, White joined Holding in leading out the group for today's practice. Holding has been a regular starter for the Gunners in Europe this season, and with White starting the previous match in Norway, both Englishmen will be in contention to start once again.
Three youngsters train
Ahead of the game, football.london understands that Khayon Edwards, Catalin Cirjan, and Maldini Kacurri all trained with the first team ahead of the Gunners' clash with PSV. Kacurri is a player for the under-18s, while Edwards and Cirjan have frequently featured for the Arsenal under-23s this season.
Last week, 19-year-old striker Edwards was present at the final senior training session ahead of the flight out to Norway as Arsenal took on FK Bodo/Glimt for a second consecutive week. Kucurri is naturally a centre-back, but with Zinchenko potentially missing Arteta could use Takehiro Tomiyasu as a left-back option and that opens a space in the middle of defence for the youngster to slot in. While Cirjan, who is a midfielder, has trained with the first team before.
Vieira has found a new pal
Fabio Vieira has constantly been pictured with Martinelli in recent weeks. The pair have seemed inseparable as they have gained a close bond since the Portugal midfielder joined in the summer.
A Portuguese-speaking group has been established within the club as Marquinhos, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, Vieira and Martinelli have all walked out together, joking and laughing in previous training sessions.
However, Martinelli's absence from Arsenal training meant that Vieira could not enter the session with the Brazilian. Instead, the midfielder was seen laughing and joking with Thomas Partey as they entered the lush London Colney training fields.
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