Raya, Merino, Timber, White – Arsenal injury update ahead of Leicester City clash
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will wait until the last possible moment to decide if number one goalkeeper David Raya is fit to face Leicester City.
Raya missed the Gunners’ midweek Carabao Cup tie against Bolton with an unspecified muscle injury and had been a doubt for this Saturday’s Premier League clash with City (3pm kick-off). Arteta is giving the Spaniard another 24 hours to prove his fitness. If he isn’t available, veteran keeper Neto, a summer signing from Bournemouth, is expected to come into the team for his debut.
“We have to wait another 24 hours,” Arteta said at his press conference on Friday afternoon. “We have to wait 24 hours to see if he’s looking good or not that good. When we have that clarity for Leicester we will make that decision tomorrow.
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“(Signing Neto), we had to react quickly with the departure of Aaron (Ramsdale). We had him on our list for a few years. We believed he was the right player because he was in the Premier League and had experience and we can put him in at the right moment.”
Defenders Jurrien Timber and Ben White will be available for Arteta to choose from on Saturday, but midfield recruit Mike Merino remains out with the shoulder injury he suffered. Captain Martin Odegaard remains absent too.
“Jurrien was able to take part in training today, so he will be available in the squad,” Arteta added. “Ben will be available too.
“Tomorrow is too soon (for Merino). Next week we will see, he had partial training today. He has been working so hard, it is about the healing of bone and how mature that is to expose him to contact.”