Following the conclusion of Arsenal's final pre-season match in Asia, manager Mikel Arteta has provided an optimistic update on three key defenders who were absent from the latest game. This news comes as a relief to fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike, who are eagerly anticipating the start of the new Premier League season.
The Gunners faced off against Tottenham Hotspur in an unprecedented overseas North London derby last Thursday. The match took place at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. This marked Arsenal’s third and final fixture of their Asia tour, following victories over AC Milan and Newcastle.
Despite a valiant effort from the team, they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to their fierce north London rivals. However, not all was lost as there were some positives to take away from this encounter - one being Viktor Gyökeres' debut in an Arsenal shirt. The announcement that Gyokeres would don the number 14 shirt led to a record-breaking surge in jersey sales.
Absence of key players
Notably missing from this clash were several key players including Gabriel Magalhães, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori. Their absence was felt by both fans and teammates alike.
Gabriel and Timber have yet to feature during pre-season due to injuries sustained towards the end of last season while Calafiori picked up a knock during their win over Newcastle which ruled him out for Tottenham's fixture.
In response to queries about these players' availability for the upcoming season via Arsenal media after the match, Arteta gave reassuring responses that have been quoted by official club channels.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, said:
“They’ve been involved in the last few days so Gabriel, Calafiori, Timber, the three of them will be available.”
Final friendlies
With the new Premier League campaign just two weeks away, concerns over the trio’s fitness were understandable. However, Arteta's comments have served to allay these fears and provide a timely boost to team morale.
Before Arsenal take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on opening day, they will face Villarreal and Athletic Club in two final friendlies. These matches will provide Timber and Gabriel with an opportunity to gain crucial match fitness ahead of the season.
While pre-season games can be a mixed bag of results for any team, it is clear that Arsenal fans have much to look forward to in the upcoming season. With key players returning from injury and promising new talent like Gyökeres joining their ranks, there is plenty of reason for optimism among Gunners supporters.
