Mikel Arteta has provided a hopeful update on Arsenal's injury situation ahead of their Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Potential Returns for Gunners
The Arsenal manager was coy but optimistic during his pre-match press conference, hinting that one or more players could be in contention for the trip to the City Ground. Arteta confirmed he would meet with the medical staff and assess players in a training session before making a final decision on availability for Saturday's match.
When directly asked about potential returns, the Spaniard stated, "It might be," before adding, "I can't tell you." He did, however, rule out any fresh injury concerns within the squad.
Calafiori Most Likely Candidate
While Arteta refused to name individuals, the most realistic candidate for a return appears to be defender Riccardo Calafiori. Other players like Cristhian Mosquera and Max Doman are thought to be further from full fitness, while the situation surrounding Piero Hincapie remains unclear, leaving a slim possibility of an earlier-than-expected comeback.
Arteta explained his approach to planning for returning players, saying, "In certain things, yes, and especially looking at the opponent and the things we’re going to be able to train that we can replicate in those games." He acknowledged the challenge, adding, "Sometimes, ideally we want to plan... and some other times it’s just impossible - you have to go game by game."
Arteta Warns of Tough Dyche Test
The manager was full of praise for the challenge posed by Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest, who have become a more resolute side since his appointment and have moved seven points clear of the relegation zone. Arteta called Dyche a "top coach" whose clear identity makes Forest "very dangerous."
"You can see straight away the fingerprints on the team, the way they play," Arteta said. "Winning away from home in the Premier League is extremely tough. With Sean, they are different, very, very efficient in what they do."
The match comes at a pivotal time in the title race. Arsenal currently sit six points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, and with City playing Manchester United earlier on Saturday, the Gunners have a chance to extend their lead. However, they must first navigate a tricky away fixture against a revitalised Forest side.
