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Team news update: Arteta confirms injury blow ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Brighton

By on May 21, 2021

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Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Hector Bellerin will miss Arsenal’s final game of the Premier League season when Brighton come to the Emirates on Sunday.

Bellerin was forced to sit out our 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night after picking up an injury during his substitute appearances against Chelsea a week earlier.

The Spaniard hasn’t been able to recover in time to face Brighton on Sunday so Arteta has confirmed the right-back won’t be available for selection this weekend.

It’s raised the question whether Bellerin has played his final game for Arsenal as speculation in the media suggests the 26-year-old will leave the club this summer. However, Arteta has played down those reports by pointing out that Bellerin is under contract and insists the full-back will remain at Arsenal.

The boss told Arsenal.com:

on Hector Bellerin’s future…
Hector is not fit [for Sunday] so he will not be playing the last time. Like everybody that has a contract, he remains here.

With Bellerin still out, Calum Chambers is likely to keep his place at right-back on Sunday. There was no update on David Luiz at Arteta’s press conference today but we have to assume he’s still out with a thigh injury while Mat Ryan isn’t eligible to face his parent club.

Arsenal head into the final game of the season needing to beat Brighton at the Emirates to stand any chance of snatching a European qualification place.

Our campaign looked dead and buried only a few weeks ago but a run of four consecutive wins in the Premier League has left us sitting just one point behind Tottenham and Everton.

They both have tough away games on Sunday [at Leicester and Man City] so victory over Brighton could see Arsenal finish seventh and secure qualification to the Europa Conference League.