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Arsenal team news: Attacker a doubt for Burnley trip but key men set to return

By on March 4, 2021

Arsenal will look to build some momentum with victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday lunchtime [12.30 kick-off]. Here is the latest team news and injury updates ahead of the game….

Mikel Arteta took a huge gamble by resting several key players for Arsenal’s clash with Leicester City last weekend. Having worked hard to come from behind to beat Benfica in the Europa League the previous Thursday, the boss decided to field a weakened side at the King Power three days later.

The likes of Hector Bellerin and Bukayo Saka were unused substitutes while Pierre-Emile Aubameyang, Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey came off the bench to help secure a much-needed, and somewhat surprising, 3-1 victory over the Foxes.

We’ve been able to concentrate on training the past few days as Arsenal had no midweek game this week so those five players are all expected to be recalled for our trip to Burnley this weekend. However, one player who could miss out on Saturday is Emile Smith Rowe after he picked up a muscle issue against Leicester.

Arteta provided an update at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday and confirmed that Smith Rowe has undergone a scan. Thankfully the injury ‘doesn’t look significant’ but the attacker is still feeling discomfort so it remains to be seen whether he’ll be fit to face Burnley.

Arteta told Arsenal.com:

Emile had a scan yesterday, it doesn’t look a significant injury but he was in discomfort. For the rest, hopefully everybody should be okay.

I doubt Arteta will take any risks with Smith Rowe so I don’t expect to see the 22-year-old starting against Burnley. Odegaard is likely to be recalled in the N0.10 role after his rest last weekend.

Otherwise, Arteta has a fully-fit squad to choose from so there is no excuse for Arsenal not picking up all three points against Burnley on Saturday. The boss might rest a couple of players ahead of next week’s vital first leg with Olympiacos but we should still be too strong for Sean Dyche’s side.