Arsenal are confident Oleksandr Zinchenko will be back to face Southampton on Friday night, though there are fears William Saliba will still be sidelined for the trip to face Manchester City.
The Gunners slipped up in the Premier League title race on Sunday despite taking a two-goal lead at the London Stadium after just 10 minutes, with goals from Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen securing an unlikely comeback for West Ham.
Arsenal were without two key components of their usually excellent back-line, with Saliba still struggling with a back injury and Zinchenko a surprise absentee.
Fortunately for the north Londoners, the Ukraine international was only left out as a precaution due to a tight groin and the Evening Standard claim he will return against Southampton.
The problem is only minor and Zinchenko – who was in the stands at the London Stadium, passionately cheering on his team-mates – is set to be fit again in time for Friday’s match.
Discussing the reason behind the left-back’s absence, manager Mikel Arteta said: ‘He had a muscular issue at the end of the match at Anfield last week.
‘He struggled in the last few minutes. We assessed him, he wasn’t fit enough to play.’
Saliba, meanwhile, has been out of action since injuring his back in Arsenal’s Europa League last-16 defeat to Sporting Lisbon and still does not have a return date.
According to the Evening Standard, he will not be back in time for the visit of Southampton on Friday while next Thursday’s title showdown with Manchester City at the Etihad ‘will come too soon’ for the centre-back as well.
The Frenchman is yet to return to training and Arteta has been rather vague regarding a recovery timetable.
‘He’s progressing well and we’re hopeful that we’ll have him available in the next few weeks,’ said the Arsenal boss last week. ‘We’ll have to see.’
Worryingly for Arsenal, they have not kept a clean sheet since that Europa League defeat to Sporting last month – a match they drew 1-1 (3-3 on aggregate) and lost on penalties.
Since then they have conceded six goals in four matches against Crystal Palace, Leeds, Liverpool and West Ham – which represents nearly 20% of the total goals they have conceded all season long.
The Gunners are also without Takehiro Tomiyasu, who required knee surgery, while Mohamed Elneny will not be back in training until the Summer (Summer is Here SALE)r. In better news, Eddie Nketiah got a brief run out at the end of Sunday’s draw with West Ham.
MORE : Declan Rice spotted picking up signed Arsenal shirt from Martin Odegaard amid transfer rumours
MORE : Angry Mikel Arteta blasts ‘sloppy’ Arsenal and ‘terrible’ moment in draw against West Ham
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
First appear at William Saliba set to miss Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City but Oleksandr Zinchenko returns
