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Arsenal team news update: Key duo could return versus Leicester + Martinelli update

By on October 24, 2020

dani ceballos arsenal

Arsenal could have Dani Ceballos and Willian back to face Leicester City on Sunday night but at least four players are certain to miss the game.

Ceballos wasn’t risked for our Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna on Thursday night after bruising his ankle during last weekend’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City. But Ceballos is back in full training and the club have confirmed he’s available to face Leicester tomorrow.

Like Ceballos, Willian also missed the trip to Austria after suffering a calf injury against City. The former Chelsea attacker will need to be assessed by the clubs medical team before a decision is made over his involvement versus Leicester.

Willian’s injury isn’t serious so the hope is he’ll be passed fit. His return would be a boost as Arsenal lack creative ideas going forward right now and Willian has the potential to be a danger in the final third.

However, we will be without three centre-backs against the Foxes. Rob Holding has been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury while Pablo Mari is still around a week away from returning to full training following an ankle issue.

Arsenal have confirmed that Calum Chambers is back in full training after recovering from a knee ligament injury but the Leicester game will come too soon so he remains on the sidelines along with Gabriel Martinelli.

A team news update on Arsenal.com confirmed:

Dani Ceballos
Left ankle. Slight ankle bruising, now back in full training and available for selection.

Rob Holding
Right hamstring. Sustained hamstring strain during the warm-up at Manchester City last Saturday.

Rob is likely to be out of action for approximately three weeks.

Willian
Right calf. Slight calf issue, being assessed ahead of Sunday.

Could we see Arteta try out 4-3-3 now that Ceballos is available and Thomas Partey impressed on his full debut? Rumour has it Arteta wants to switch formation eventually and field a trio in midfield of Granit Xhaka, Partey and Ceballos.

Perhaps the Leicester game may be a bit soon so it will be interesting to see who gets picked in midfield. Surely Partey did enough against Rapid Vienna to keep his place so one of Ceballos and Xhaka will miss out. My guess is it’ll be Ceballos.

One Comment

  1. Gunnerpete

    October 25, 2020 at 11:33 am

    I do not understand todays injury list. For 7 consecutaive years we have had mor long term injuries than any other team. Worse still we also do not play our signings soon enough and pander to the press. No one will convince me that Saliba (who I have seen play for the French U21 and St Etiene and he is 100% better that Kolasinac and should be alongside Luiz and Gabrile NOW alllowing Thierney to join Partey, Cellabos and MN in midfield. I watch Tony Adams as a teen and although one of our greats he was not in the same class as Saliba is now.We should be told the truth about why one of the best talents in Europe is being treated like a novice??

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