In preparation for their Premier League matchup against Leicester City on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal has welcomed no fewer than three players back to the practise fields to prepare for the game at the weekend.
The Gunners won 2-0 at Selhurst Park to start the 2022-23 season off in style. Gabriel Martinelli and a Marc Guehi own goal were scored each side of the interval. Injuries have plagued the Gunners boss Mikel Arteta throughout the summer, and he was in danger of missing the game along with Emile Smith-Rowe, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Fabio Vieira.
Without giving names, Arteta stated in his pre-game press conference that three of the group would practise prior to the game, but only Tierney was physically fit enough
Given that Tomiyasu, Smith Rowe, and Vieira were all seen working out on Wednesday, Arsenal might have a completely healthy squad available for its opening home match of the season on Saturday.
Due to a groyne ailment, Smith Rowe was always anticipated to miss the trip to Selhurst Park, and Vieira has been hampered by foot and ankle issues ever since joining the club from Porto earlier this summer.
The Portuguese playmaker is thus yet to make his Arsenal debut, but he could do so this weekend against the Foxes, with any playing time likely coming off the bench.
Tomiyasu, who spent a lot of time in the medical area last season, made a comeback to play 45 minutes for the Under-21s in their weekend 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
The 23-year-old was only able to make 21 Premier League appearances last season, 20 of which came right away. He also missed 13 other games in the top level due to injury.
Ben White filled in for Tomiyasu at right defender against Crystal Palace as William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes teamed up in the middle of the defence.
Saliba won the game's man of the match award on his professional debut, and White mostly outperformed Wilfried Zaha against him, thus Tomiyasu might also replace him this week.
newest hires In their competitive debuts for the Gunners, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko both made an impression, but Mikel Arteta is still optimistic about bringing in fresh faces before the summer transfer window closes.
Arteta told Sky Sports News at Selhurst Park:
"We are going to try. If we can do them, great. But now it's work with the players we have, the focus should be with the players we have. You need the right balance because if you come short in terms of physicality in this game, you're going to be exposed."
"The most important thing is to win the first match, to build confidence and momentum. Then you can talk about things we need to improve - there were quite a few today, to be honest."
Arteta is reportedly willing to wait until 2023 to try to get Youri Tielemans, who has entered the final year of his contract with Leicester City, even if it is now believed that Arteta's priority is a new midfielder.
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