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Team news: Arteta rules Arsenal star out of Chelsea game, 3 others also doubts

By on May 11, 2021

Mikel Arteta has provided a team news update ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea on Wednesday night and we could be without four players for the game.

Let’s start with the bad news and the boss confirmed that David Luiz is ‘not yet recovered’ from the hamstring injury that he sustained against Newcastle United earlier this month and won’t be available to face Chelsea tomorrow.

Arteta also suggested that we picked up some knocks during the 3-1 victory over West Brom on Sunday but he didn’t name any specific players. The boss just said they’d be assessed at training today.

Emile Smith Rowe is likely to be one of those who’ll be facing a late fitness check as he limped off against the Baggies with a hamstring issue. The 20-year-old had earlier opened the scoring for Arsenal and Arteta hinted after the game his injury may have just been cramp, but we’ll have to wait and see whether he’s in the squad against Chelsea or not.

Granit Xhaka missed the win on Sunday due to a groin injury that’s kept him out for the last three games and it appears he remains a doubt for the trip to Chelsea while Pablo Mari is also needing to be assessed after picking up an ankle injury against Villarreal last week.

Arteta told Arsenal.com today:

on the latest team news…
We have to see today, there were some issues over the weekend again. We are playing every three days and there is no time to train yet, today is the first day so we will have to wait and see. Yes [there were] some injuries, yes.

on whether anyone is ruled out…
Well the situation with David [Luiz] is that he is not yet recovered, we will see how he does in the next few weeks. The rest are still in contention but we will have to see today how they come.

Let’s hope some of the boys are passed fit, particularly Xhaka and Smith Rowe as I think they’d be sorely missed against Chelsea if they are ruled out tomorrow night.

Arsenal need a positive result at the Bridge as we’re ninth in the table, four points off seventh with just three games left, so defeat would all-but end any remaining [slim!] hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.