Fresh from securing a Champions League final berth, Mikel Arteta confirmed a clean bill of health but ruled out two key stars as the title race intensifies.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns after their Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, but Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino will miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with West Ham.
Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League final with a 1-0 win over Atletico on Tuesday night, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory. The result was one of the biggest of Arteta’s time in charge, but the manager has confirmed his squad came through the game without any new fitness issues.
Asked whether Arsenal had picked up any fresh injury concerns after the semi-final, Arteta said: “No, everybody finished the game well and nothing to add I think.”
That is a positive update for Arsenal as they return to Premier League action. With the Champions League final now secured, the full focus shifts back to the title race, and Arteta will need as many options available as possible during the final stretch of the domestic season.
Timber and Merino, however, will not be available against West Ham. Asked whether either player had a chance of returning this weekend, Arteta was clear.
“No chance for the weekend,” he said.
The Arsenal boss was also cautious when asked whether the pair could be seen again before the end of the season.
“I don’t know,” Arteta said. “There’s still a fair bit to do so everything has to be so smooth and quick if they want to have a chance to play any minutes.”
Timber’s continued absence is particularly frustrating given the uncertainty around his recovery timeline. The defender has been one of Arsenal’s most important players when fit, but Arteta admitted the injury has taken longer than first expected.
“Yes, and that’s been probably the most difficult thing to manage, with the player, with myself as well, because we didn’t expect it to take so long,” Arteta said. “And at the moment he’s not fit to play.”
Merino’s absence also removes another midfield option for Arteta, although Arsenal are in a stronger overall position than they have been at several points this season. Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard both returned to the squad against Atletico, while Bukayo Saka has scored in back-to-back games since coming back into the starting XI.
Arsenal’s squad depth was evident in midweek, with Odegaard, Havertz, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi all available from the bench. That gives Arteta more room to manage the physical and emotional demands of the final weeks.
West Ham will still come too soon for Timber and Merino, but the lack of new injuries after Atletico is significant. Arsenal remain in the Premier League title race, and with every game now carrying major weight, availability could be decisive.