Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber were all missing as Arsenal held open training on Thursday, but Mikel Arteta provided more positive news in Friday’s press conferences
UPDATED: Arsenal’s preparations for the weekend took an anxious turn on Thursday morning as Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber were all absent from the club’s open training session. The trio’s non-appearance raised questions ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Sunderland, with Mikel Arteta already juggling several fitness concerns at a crucial point of the season.
However, the Arsenal head coach provided more reassuring news during Friday’s press conference.
On Saka, Arteta spoke of an improvement regarding the winger’s hip problem.
“His hip is much better, and hopefully very soon he will be with us,” Arteta said, although he did not confirm exactly how much more he will remain out.
Saka has not featured since being forced out of the warm-up before Arsenal’s match against Leeds on January 31. The winger pulled up just moments before kick-off and was withdrawn as a precaution, with the club opting not to take any risks.
Positive news on Odegaard and Timber
On Odegaard and Timber, there was also encouraging news from the manager, particularly on the Dutch defender.
“Martin [Odegaard] will be a matter of days and Jurrien [Timber] is fine,” Arteta said on Friday.
Odegaard missed Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg victory over Chelsea after picking up an injury earlier in the week.
The Arsenal captain has been a central figure in Arteta’s system this season, and his omission from open training on Thursday raised alarms about his readiness for Sunderland. Arteta’s words are reassuring for the long-term, but appear to suggest Saturday might come too soon.
Timber’s confirmed fitness, however, comes as a major boost. The Dutch defender featured in the win over Chelsea, completing the match. His absence from Thursday’s session suggests Arsenal were simply managing his workload.
Arteta has often stressed the importance of managing minutes during congested periods of the calendar, and Timber’s recent return from injury means the club will be keen to avoid any setbacks.
Arsenal still have time before final decisions are made on Saturday’s squad, with further training sessions scheduled behind closed doors.
Historically, players missing open sessions are not automatically ruled out, but their absence does point to late calls being required.
With Sunderland up next and bigger fixtures looming on the horizon, Arsenal’s medical staff face a delicate balancing act – ensuring key players are protected without disrupting momentum.
Updates are expected closer to matchday, but for now, the availability of Saka, Odegaard and Timber remains one of the key talking points around the club.