Ahead of Crystal Palace trip, Mikel Arteta provides injury update on crucial Arsenal trio
In his pre-match news conference, Mikel Arteta provided an injury update on a trio of first-team players ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Selhurst Park to face high-flying Crystal Palace.
In the first of three updates, Arsene Wenger stated that Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has been out for almost two months due to a thigh injury, is ‘close’ to being well enough to play, which would be a huge boost for the Gunners.
‘I believe he will be very close.’ He’s been increasing his training. He’ll be participating in some workouts this week, so we’ll see how his injury is progressing,’ he told the press.
While Cedric fills in admirably, he lacks many of the qualities Arteta seeks in his fullback, which are embodied in the returning Japanese defender.
Arteta on Tomiyasu:
“I think he will be close. He’s been training more and more. He’ll be joining some sessions this week so let’s see how his injury is.”
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) March 31, 2022
Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsdale is a doubt for the trip to Selhurst Park, as he has been yet to train after picking up a hip injury in his side’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. The shot-stopper was forced to pull out of the England squad as a result, and is yet to return to Arsenal training sessions either, meaning that Bernd Leno may be afforded a second opportunity in goal.
There is no such concern over Bukayo Saka, however, who pulled out of the England camp after testing positive for COVID-19, with Mikel Arteta revealing that his star man is ‘feeling good’, and is expected to take part in Thursday’s training session ahead of the Monday evening clash.
Arteta: “Bukayo is feeling good. He’s training today hopefully. Aaron is a doubt. He hasn’t trained yet.”https://t.co/PFZ9bXUbZN
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) March 31, 2022
Arsenal to continue good form?
Arsenal will be all too aware that Champions League qualification is well within their grasp, and will continue to be so should their good form continue.
However, Palace will be no pushovers, with an exciting young core that resulted in three south Londoners picking up England caps over the international break. Headed by former Arsenal great Patrick Vieira, a Monday night trip to a raucous Selhurst Park is a trip of the sort that traditionally the Gunners struggle with.
Is this youthful side different? A win here could prove a giant step towards Champions League football back at the Emirates stadium.
| Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Result/Both teams score | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace | 7/1 | 11/2 |
| Arsenal | 7/2 | 11/5 |
| Draw | 15/4 | 17/2 |
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 29 | 50 | 70 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 29 | 55 | 69 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 28 | 38 | 59 |
| 4 | Arsenal FC | 28 | 13 | 54 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 29 | 11 | 51 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 29 | 8 | 50 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 30 | 10 | 48 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30 | 5 | 46 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 29 | 1 | 36 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 27 | -4 | 36 |
| 11 | Southampton FC | 29 | -9 | 35 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 29 | 1 | 34 |
| 13 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 29 | -10 | 33 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 29 | -17 | 31 |
| 15 | Brentford FC | 30 | -14 | 30 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 30 | -33 | 29 |
| 17 | Everton FC | 27 | -18 | 25 |
| 18 | Watford FC | 29 | -26 | 22 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 27 | -16 | 21 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 29 | -45 | 17 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 20 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 12 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 11 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 9 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 9 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 9 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 9 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 9 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 8 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 8 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 8 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 9 |
| Firpo, Junior | Leeds United | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 7 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 8 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 8 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 8 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 8 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 8 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| Romero, Cristian | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 8 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 6 |
| Jimenez, Raul | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 5 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 7 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 7 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 11 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 9 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 8 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 7 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 6 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 6 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 5 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 5 |
| Henderson, Jordan | Liverpool FC | 5 |
