Arsenal will be without both Jurrien Timber and William Saliba for their trip to Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season.
Timber is sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery on Tuesday, while fellow Gunners defender Saliba will be absent after picking up a hamstring injury during last week’s win over Newcastle.
Arsenal will also remain without long-term absentees Gabriel (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) at St Mary’s on Sunday.
“Jurrien, he had a surgery on Tuesday morning on his ankle,” said manager Mikel Arteta on Thursday. “He’s been feeling that discomfort for many, many weeks.
“He’s been navigating through the season with that issue, and it needed to be resolved, so he’s going to be out for a while.
“And Saliba, he had something in his hamstring in the first half [against Newcastle], just before half-time, and again, he’s going to be out for a few weeks.”
The absence of Timber means Ben White will stay at right-back for Arsenal against Southampton, while Riccardo Calafiori could come in for Saliba at centre-back having deputised off the bench last weekend.
Arsenal will welcome back Mikel Merino on Sunday after he served his one-match suspension against Newcastle following a sending off at Anfield.
The Spaniard could come into the team in place of Declan Rice, who has been struggling with a hamstring issue of late.
Kai Havertz will be pushing to start after making his comeback last week following hamstring surgery in February.
Sunday’s match against Southampton is set to be Jorginho and Kieran Tierney’s final appearances for Arsenal. The pair will both likely feature - but it is unclear if they will get the nod to start.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Kiwior, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Injured: Gabriel (hamstring), Jesus (knee), Saliba (hamstring), Timber (ankle), Tomiyasu (knee)
Time and date: 4pm BST on Sunday May 25, 2025
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Referee: Darren Bond
