Arsenal Receive Boost with Saka, Rice, and Zubimendi
Arsenal have been handed the lift they wanted before Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City, with Mikel Arteta confirming Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are back in the frame for selection.
The pair, who have dominated the fitness chatter in the build-up to the curtain-raiser, trained with the squad and are on course to be involved. New signing Martin Zubimendi is in the same bracket.
“They will be available, they trained with us today, they will train tomorrow and if they are in the condition that we expect them to be, they will be involved,” Arteta said, sounding confident rather than cautious.
Saka, Rice and Zubimendi boost
After a demanding summer, Arteta made a point of highlighting the professionalism of his squad, stressing how ready they look for the champions’ first test of the season.
He praised the way his players attacked pre-season work, saying most of them returned ahead of schedule and hit the required physical levels straight away. The message was clear: there will be no excuses about sharpness when they walk out against Enzo Maresca’s side.
Saka’s availability restores Arsenal’s main outlet on the right, while Rice’s return shores up the heart of midfield. Zubimendi’s inclusion gives Arteta another high-level option as he tweaks the balance behind the forwards.
Defensive headaches remain
The mood shifts when the conversation moves to the back line.
Jurrien Timber and William Saliba will both miss the clash as they continue their rehabilitation. For Saliba, the outlook is particularly bleak, with Arteta describing his situation as a “long-term injury.”
Timber’s case carries more optimism, but not enough for him to be considered for Sunday. Arsenal are refusing to rush a player they see as central to their tactical structure.
“Jurrien is progressing really well,” Arteta explained. “He is on the pitch, we are ramping up now with certain actions and especially the volume and the load. I think he is on a good trajectory, but there is still a few weeks to go. Wilo, as we all know, it's more a long-term injury.”
Timber’s versatility – able to operate at full-back or tuck inside – has been a key part of Arteta’s planning. His absence forces a rethink, but his recovery is clearly entering a decisive phase.
Timber’s crucial next step
Arteta expects the next week to ten days to be important for Timber as he edges towards full group training. Arsenal are treading carefully, step by step, to make sure there are no setbacks.
“We have to wait and see,” Arteta said. “He needs to start to train with the group in the next week or so hopefully, and then see how he progresses from there. It's been a long-term issue, and we want to make sure that every step that we take is the right one, he feels right to do that, because he's such an important player for us.”
The plan is clear: controlled progress now, to avoid a repeat breakdown later in the season.
Eyes still on the market
While injuries dominate the immediate agenda, the wider picture is the squad itself. With the transfer deadline approaching and links to several defenders swirling, Arteta kept names out of the conversation but not ambition.
“I am not going to talk about an individual but what I can obviously tell you is [about] the ambition of the club,” he said. “It is big that we want to improve the squad, we want to evolve the squad, in order to achieve. We have detected some areas that they can be a strength in – that is what we are trying to do.”
Saka and Rice back. Timber edging closer. Saliba out for the long haul. And a manager still pushing for reinforcements. Arsenal step into the new campaign knowing exactly where they are strong – and exactly where the next move has to land.
