Mikel Arteta has indicated that he anticipates Gabriel Magalhães, Jurriën Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori will be ready to begin the Premier League season. The trio was absent during a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in Hong Kong, which marked the first North London Derby played outside of England.
Gabriel and Timber didn’t participate in any of the three matches during Arsenal’s preseason tour in Asia due to injuries sustained at the end of last season. Gabriel managed to play 45 minutes in a friendly against Watford after recovering from hamstring surgery, but experienced what Arteta referred to as a slight discomfort during training. Timber underwent ankle surgery in May and did not get any playing time during the tour, while Calafiori had to be substituted during Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Newcastle in Singapore, but has since returned to training.
When questioned about their readiness for the league opener against Manchester United on August 17, Arteta expressed confidence, saying, “I don’t think there will be any issues. If they continue to progress as they have in the last few days, Gabriel Magalhães, Calafiori, and Timber will be available.”
Leandro Trossard made a brief appearance as a substitute against Tottenham but had to leave the match 15 minutes later. Arteta noted, “He felt a tweak while trying to turn. He was pushed and experienced some muscular discomfort, so we will have to evaluate him.” He also reassured that Kepa Arrizabalaga did not suffer a serious injury during the match. “Had this been a Premier League game, he could have played, but we opted to exercise caution.”
### Fan Take:
This news is significant for soccer enthusiasts as it highlights the ongoing recovery of key players, which can heavily influence Arsenal’s performance this season. With the Premier League starting soon, the availability of these talents could be crucial for the team’s ambitions, adding an extra layer of excitement for fans.
