Jurrien Timber and William Saliba missed out in midweek (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Leeds United.
Arsenal are looking to get back to winning ways in the league after their dramatic 3-2 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.
The defeat represented the Gunners’ first at the Emirates this season and saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just four points.
Arteta’s side bounced back in midweek, recording a routine 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty to end the Champions League’s league phase with a perfect record.
But while able to welcome Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calaifori back to the starting lineup, Arsenal were without the aforementioned Timber and Saliba due to injury.
The defensive duo have been pivotal for Arsenal this season but were absent from Tuesday’s training, with Arteta saying the pair had ‘slight niggles’.
However, the Arsenal boss confirmed that the pair are now back in training and fully fit for Saturday’s trip to Elland Road.
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Timber has been a pivotal player for Arsenal this season (Picture: Getty)
‘Yeah, they are okay,’ Arteta said in Friday’s pre-match press conference.
‘They have played a lot of minutes, and were carrying a few niggles, and it was a great opportunity [to rest them].’
Havertz was only given 45 minutes on his return to the side against Kairat, but Arteta said the German is ready to start again at the weekend if needed.
‘He is ready. He started the other day. It has been a long period, but there was no reaction,’ the Spaniard confirmed.
Earlier on Friday morning, Arsenal announced that talented youngster Max Downan had signed a pre-agreement with the club, and will sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 on 31 December 2026.
Asked about the 16-year-old, who came on as a substitute when Arsenal beat Leeds earlier in the season, Arteta said: ‘What he’s done with us at the age of 15, me personally, I haven’t seen it before.
‘Only with a guy that used to play in Barcelona but maybe not even that. He has a certain charisma as well and personality that he doesn’t get overwhelmed.’
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