(4-3-3) Nwaneri starts from Ødegaard position”, Predicted Arsenal line up vs Girona – as Mikel set to introduce three academy players to the XI
(4-3-3) Nwaneri starts from Ødegaard position”, Predicted Arsenal line up vs Girona – as Mikel set to introduce three academy players to the XI
Needing just a solitary point to guarantee Champions League last-16 qualification, Arsenal head to the Iberian Peninsula to meet Spanish upstarts Girona in their closing league phase battle on Wednesday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s men are on the cusp of sealing a top-eight finish thanks to their 3-0 success over Dinamo Zagreb last week, which kept them third in the 36-team table behind already-qualified Liverpool and Barcelona
The Gunners managed to carry that momentum forward into Saturday’s Premier League affair with Wolverhampton Wanderers, prevailing by one goal to nil despite Myles Lewis-Skelly’s contentious first-half red card.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with Girona, who have just three UCL points on the board and have already been knocked out.
Martin Odegaard
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Illness
Possible return date: January 29 (vs. Girona)
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard woke up ill on the morning of the Wolves win and had to be sent home, although there is a chance that he will fight off his bug in time for Wednesday’s game.
Mikel Merino
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Knock
Possible return date: January 29 (vs. Girona)
Likewise, Mikel Merino was an unexpected absentee from the trip to Molineux after sustaining a knock in training, one that has plunged his availability for the clash with Girona into some doubt.
Gabriel Jesus
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown
Gabriel Jesus is taking the first steps in his long road to recovery from an ACL tear, one that could render him unavailable until the latter stages of 2025.
Bukayo Saka
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: April 1 (vs. Fulham)
In contrast, Bukayo Saka should be back from his hamstring problem before the season draws to a close, but it will still be another couple of months before he is fit and available again.
