Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says England defender Ezri Konsa is ‘certainly available’ for Sunday’s English Premier League clash with Chelsea at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm BST).
The Gunners have made a flying start to their defence of the EPL title they won last season, winning their first two league games without conceding a goal.
But Sunday’s opponents Chelsea have also started well under new manager Xabi Alonso, scoring seven goals and conceding five in their two opening EPL wins.
Arteta faced the press on Friday and covered a number of topics, including team news ahead of the London derby – and Gabriel Martinelli’s exit from the club to join Al Hilal.
Timber in ‘good condition’
The Arsenal boss told Sky Sports the latest fitness updates for his squad, saying on Bruno Guimaraes: “He had a knock against Villa and he’s being assessed but probably he will be OK for training.”
On defender Jurrien Timber, Arteta added: “He’s in really good condition at the moment.
“He’s been on the pitch for a few weeks and he’s been training with us now, so he’s in a good place. We will decide on him after training.”
Star centre-back William Saliba is still some way off returning to the first team, with Arteta saying: “We don’t really know the amount of weeks he’s going to be out because it’s about a healing process.
“In every human being it’s a bit different. We know we have to respect certain timings.
“The progression has been really positive in the last few weeks but we have to wait and see how that bone reacts when we start to put some load onto it.”
And finally on former Aston Villa defender Konsa, Arteta said: “He is certainly available in the squad, so we’ll have to make that selection [decision].”
Arteta hails Martinelli ‘transformation’
Left-winger Martinelli, meanwhile, has left Arsenal for Al Hilal for a club-record £60 million fee.
The deal exceeds the £40m deal Arsenal made with Liverpool in 2017 for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
And Arteta was full of praise for the player, saying on Sky Sports: “It’s been a pleasure to work with him and be part of his journey with him.
“The Gabi I met and the Gabi that just left, it’s a huge retransformation, both in the personal side and the professional side.
“I think the impact he had for the club, his ambition, his love for the game, and the way he has helped us to grow and achieve our goals, he has been a critical player.
“The story ends and we wish him all the very best in a different one. This is part of football.”
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