Arsenal return to Champions League action against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night after the Gunners lost their unbeaten start to the season with defeat at Bournemouth.
William Saliba was sent off and Mikel Arteta’s side were punished when Ryan Christie fired in from a clever corner routine, before Evanlison doubled their lead from the penalty spot.
Victories for Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday was a further blow to Arsenal, who are now four points off the top of the table ahead of their clash with league leaders Liverpool on Sunday.
Before then, Arteta’s side return to European action against Shakhtar as Arteta’s side look to build on a positive start to the new Champions League campaign.
A 2-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain was followed up by a 0-0 draw at Europa League winners Atalanta, with David Raya’s heroics in goal earning a point for the visitors.
Shakhtar began their Champions League schedule with a 0-0 draw at Bologna before they were thumped 3-0 by Atalnta last time out. The Ukrainian side are fourth in their domestic league, behind early pace-setters Dynamo Kviv.
Here is a round-up of Arsenal’s latest team news ahead of facing Shakhtar
The 23-year-old missed the trip to Bournemouth as a result of the hamstring injury picked up while on international duty with England. Mikel Arteta said Saka’s injury was “not serious” ahead of the weekend but it was significant enough for him to miss his first match of the season.
“They are closer and both progressing really well,” Arteta said on Monday morning when asked about Saka and Martin Odegaard. “Martin is still not fit. With Bukayo, let’s see how he feels today and in the training session we have later on.”
Arsenal’s captain is entering the final stages of his recovery from an ankle injury and Arteta suggested last week that he could return before the November international break. The Gunners boss said this week will be “crucial” to understanding how close he is to returning, but he won’t be back for the Shakhtar match.
Jurrien Timber
Also missed the Bournemouth match, remaining out after being forced off injured against Paris Saint-Germain before the international break. He was expected to be in contention to make the squad at the weekend but did not travel.
“He’s going to be close,” Arteta said on Monday. “We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group. It was a muscular injury.”
William Saliba
The centre-back is available for selection in the Champions League and will serve his one-match suspension for his red card against Liverpool on Sunday.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Arteta suggested Zinchenko could be fit ahead of what is an important match for him personally against the Ukrainian club. He suffered a calf injury last month but Arteta also said he was “close” to returning before Bournemouth.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Arteta confirmed that Tomiyasi had suffered an injury set-back in his recovery from a knee injury ahead of the weekend. It is unclear how long the Japan international will be out but a return this week appears unlikely.
