Mikel Arteta has hinted at more potential injury boosts for Arsenal against Bournemouth to go along with the return of Eberechi Eze.
England midfielder Eze is back in contention for Saturday’s lunchtime clash in the Premier League after returning to training this week earlier than expected following a calf issue that has seen him miss the last three matches and withdraw from England duty.
“He's available,” Arsenal boss Arteta said of Eze at his pre-Bournemouth press conference on Friday. “My first conversation with him after he felt a niggle, he wanted to be available the next week.
“We knew that was impossible but the recovery, the will he's shown from day one to get back as quick as possible, how he’s pushed the medical staff and himself to be there tomorrow. It’s great to watch.”
While Eze trained on Thursday, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were all absent, along with Piero Hincapie and Mikel Merino.
Gunners captain Odegaard has endured an injury-hit season and only returned from a six-week absence with a knee problem last weekend when he started against Southampton.
Odegaard was in the starting lineup again in midweek for the win over Sporting, but went down off the ball in the second half and was replaced shortly afterwards.
Saka has not played since the Carabao Cup final, after which he pulled out of the England squad after initially joining up.
Saka was not involved against either Southampton or Sporting, but Arsenal had been hoping he would return in time for the resumption of the Premier League campaign.
Timber, meanwhile, has not played since he went off in the first half against Everton before the international break. It is believed to be a groin injury that the Dutch defender has been contending with.
Asked about Odegaard, Saka, Timber and Calafiori not training on Thursday, Arteta replied: “Yeah have been changes since yesterday.”
Pressed on if all four players would now be available for the visit of Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium, he said: “I don't know, some of them.”
On Hincapie, who was injured playing for Ecuador against Morocco last month, the manager responded: “There will be changes tomorrow. Good try.”
Arteta also offered a new update on Merino, who has been out since undergoing surgery on a rare and serious foot injury in early February.
“He's going to push every boundary,” Arteta said. “He's out of his boot, doing quite a lot of exercises already.
“He reacted really well to the surgery and he's got no pain. I'm sure there is a chance to make that period shorter - if there is a person that can make that shorter, it's Mikel.”
