Arsenal could soon regain two defensive options, with both Cristhian Mosquera and Jurrien Timber making progress ahead of the Sunderland trip.
Cristhian Mosquera’s looks set to return to the pitch soon, with Mikel Arteta suggesting the defender could be available for Arsenal’s match against Sunderland this weekend or the following game.
Mosquera has been unavailable after picking up an injury against Aston Villa, adding to the defensive absences Arteta has already had to manage during Arsenal’s perfect start to their Premier League campaign.
Asked for an update on the scan ahead of Saturday night’s trip to the Stadium of Light, Arteta offered an encouraging assessment.
“He’s doing really well,” the Arsenal manager said. “Let’s see if he can get this game or the next one.”
Arsenal still having another training session before travelling to the North East to see if Mosquera is fit enough to make the final squad.
The Gunners have remained strong at the back despite being without some of their first-choice options, facing just seven shots on target across their opening three Premier League matches while conceding only once.
William Saliba is yet to feature this season, while summer signing Ezri Konsa has settled quickly into the squad and been required to take on an immediate role at centre-back, putting up strong performances against both Chelsea and Napoli.
Konsa’s performances were also praised as part of Arteta’s press conference, with the manager describing his start as “something to admire” given how quickly he has adapted.
Mosquera is not the only defender nearing a return.
Jurrien Timber has also been working his way back to full fitness and travelled with the squad for Arsenal’s opening Champions League game on Wednesday night, although he did not make the final squad for the 1-0 win in Napoli.
Arteta will assess him again before deciding whether the Sunderland game comes soon enough.
“Let’s see. We have another training session,” he said.
“He’s been doing really well. He’s been training with us now for a few days and he looks in a good shape.”
Timber and Ben White have rarely been available a the same time since the Dutch defender signed for the Gunners, something Arteta also acknowledged when discussing his options at full-back.
Timber suffered a serious knee injury shortly after joining the club, with Arteta explaining that such a long-term absence can have consequences afterwards. White has also spent time out with injuries of his own, at points leaving Arsenal short at right-back, asking the likes of Mosquera to fill in on the right side, with Declan Rice also having played short stints to see out games.
The manager pointed to the physical demands now placed on full-backs and the knock-on effect when injuries force one player into a particularly heavy run of matches.
Arsenal have coped well defensively despite those absences at the beginning of the new campaign. They have conceded only once in their opening three Premier League matches, with Arteta already using several different combinations across the back four.
The possible returns of Mosquera and Timber would give Arteta more options as the fixture schedule becomes increasingly demanding following the start of Arsenal’s Champions League campaign.
Whether either is involved at the Stadium of Light will depend on Arsenal’s final preparations, but Arteta’s updates suggest both are moving closer to being available.
